Alkmene (apple)

Malus pumila 'Alkmene'
'Alkmene' whole and sectioned
Genus	Malus
Species	Malus pumila
Hybrid parentage	'Cox's Orange Pippin' x 'Geheimrat Dr. Oldenburg'
Cultivar	'Alkmene'
Origin	Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm Institute, 1900 - 1949
Cultivar group members	'Red Windsor'

'Alkmene' is a German cultivar of domesticated apple, also called 'Early Windsor'.^[1]

Two natural mutations (sports) of this cultivar that have red-skinned fruit have been selected: one called 'Red Alkmene' was trademarked under the name of Red Windsor; the other is 'Ceeval'.^[2]

It was developed between the years 1900 and 1949, by the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute^[3] in Müncheberg, Germany,^[1] by crossing the two cultivars 'Cox's Orange Pippin' and 'Geheimrat Dr. Oldenburg' (frequently confused with the similar-sounding 'Duchess of Oldenburg'). The result is an early harvest apple (early mid season), which is very attractive,^[3] with a honeyed^[1] flavor similar to Cox's but slightly sharper.^[3] Its main use is for fresh eating.^[1]

'Alkmene' flowers early mid season, with self-fertile blossoms, hence no cross pollination is needed. Fruit size is medium and variable, flesh color is yellowish or extremely yellow for an apple,^[3] skin has greenish-yellow background with orange-reddish flush and strong red strips. The 'Red Windsor' cultivar has a larger portion of red.^[1] It is resistant to apple scab and susceptible to blossom frost.^[3]

'Alkmene' was awarded the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society in 1998.^[3]

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