Once assumed to be the creation of fruit explorer and collector Morris Towle of Winthrop, Maine. However, research by Dan Bussey, manager of the Seeds Savers Exchange Historic Orchard and author of the seven-volume opus The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada, has straightened that out. It really comes from South Dakota.

Medium-sized fruit is wine red with patches and stripes of darker red and very small white dots. The very juicy coarse flesh is almost solid beet red: a real eye popper! Very good—though extremely tart—flavor, makes a great addition to cider or sauce, as well as fresh eating for those who like it tart.

Leaves are tomentose (soft and woolly) and have a dark reddish cast. Blossoms are light pink. Tree is a natural semi-dwarf. Blooms midseason. Z3. Maine Grown. (Semi-dwarf: 2½-5' bare-root trees)