This ornamental East Asian small tree ("Toringo Crabapple") is widely planted in northeastern states and it has become locally invasive, especially in N.J. to Mass. in the Chicago area (Cr, K, W; eddmaps.org). In Ky. and elsewhere, toringo has often been overlooked. M. toringo is a variable species; reported 2n = 34, 51, ?68. There are several named segregates and cultivars The first record was a coll. in 1978 by E. Chester from TRIG, where it was "common on open roadsides" (APSC). An apparently self-sown tree 8 m tall was recently found by JC in the wild garden of D. Svetich (FAYE); and the species appears to be spreading abundantly in the nearby old fields of Hisle Park (FAYE). M. toringo usually has 3-4 styles (versus 5 in most Malus); relatively small, ca. 6-8 mm wide, red or brownish-yellow fruits; leaves relatively narrow and often slightly to deeply lobed (especially on long shoots), puberulous below at least when young; and somewhat thorny branches on vigorous sprouts. Its leaf-lobing and thorniness can sometimes cause confusion with the native species of Malus (Chloromeles), but its DNA indicates a close relationship with baccata (Liu et al. 2022). The traditional section Sorbomalus may be difficult to maintain. Both toringo and baccata have sepals deciduous in fruit; the generally larger fruits of domestica [pumila], prunifolia and the natives have persistent sepals (FNA 9, W, Y). An apparent hybrid of toringo with baccata is widely grown (including for bonzai) and has been reportedly naturalized in sw. Ohio. This hybrid may be named Malus ×zumi (Matsumura) Rehder.