It has been asserted, that this apple was brought from Peloponessus to Rome, by Appius Claudius. Whether this be true or not, there can be no doubt it is of great antiquity, as all the oldest authors regard it as the production of an age prior to their own. Dalechamp and Harduin are of opinion that it is the Petisia of Pliny; but J. Baptista Porta considers it to be the Appiana of that author, who thus describes it, “Odor est his cotoneorum magnitudo quæ Claudianis, color rubens.”[I] From this description it is evident that two varieties are referred to, the Appiana and Claudiana. Such being the case, J. Baptista Porta says, “duo sunt apud nos mala, magnitudine, et colore paria, et preciosa, quorum unum odorem servat cotoneorum, alterum minimè. Quod odore caret, vulgo dictum _Melo rosa_. Id roseo colore perfusum est, mira teneritudine et sapore, minimè fugax, pomum magnitudine media, ut facile cum ceteris de principatu certet, nec indignum Claudii nomine. Hoc Claudianum dicerem.”[J] This Melo Rosa may possibly be the Pomme Rose or Gros Api; and if so, we may infer that the Api is the _Appiana_, and the Gros Api the _Claudiana_ of Pliny. This, however, may be mere conjecture, but as the authority referred to, was a native of Naples, and may be supposed to know something of the traditionary associations of the Roman fruits, I have deemed it advisable to record his opinion on the subject. According to Merlet, the Api was first discovered as a wilding in the Forest of Api, in Brittany.
Although mentioned by most of the early continental writers, the Api does not appear to have been known in this country, till towards the end of the 17th century. It is first mentioned by Worlidge, who calls it “Pomme Appease, a curious apple, lately propagated; the fruit is small and pleasant, which the Madams of France carry in their pockets, by reason they yield no unpleasant scent.” Lister, in his “Journey to Paris, 1698,” speaking of this as being one of the apples served up in the dessert, says, “Also the Pome d’Apis, which is served here more for show than for use; being a small flat apple, very beautiful, and very red on one side, and pale or white on the other, and may serve the ladies at their toilets as a pattern to paint by.” De Quintinye calls it “Une Pomme des Damoiselles et de bonne compagnie.”