What is the Linnean name of the domestic apple tree?

The story behind the answer

Malus pumila is correct because Malus is the apple genus and pumila is the specific epithet Linnaeus used for the cultivated apple. By contrast, Malus americana is a North American crabapple, Pomus domestica is not a valid Latin binomial, and “Appelus delectica” is made-up. You may also see Malus domestica used today; it’s a widely accepted synonym in modern taxonomy for the domestic apple.

Memory tip: “Malus” is Latin for apple and is the root of “malic acid,” the tart acid in apples. “Pumila” means small or dwarf—think of dwarf apple trees used in orchards. Domesticated apples ultimately trace back to wild ancestors like Malus sieversii from Central Asia, which helps explain the huge variety of apple cultivars we enjoy today.