I. CRUS-GALLI.
CONSPECTUS OF THE ARBORESCENT SPECIES.
Corymbs, leaves, and young branchlets slightly hairy while young, soon becoming glabrous (glabrous while young in 1, 4, 6, 9, and 13). Stamens 10. Anthers rose color or purple. Leaves glabrous, obovate-cuneiform, coriaceous, their veins within the parenchyma; fruit short-oblong to subglobose, dull red often covered with a glaucous bloom.1. [C. Crus-galli] (A). Leaves oblong to ovate, usually acute, coriaceous; fruit short-oblong to subglobose, dark crimson, lustrous, the flesh red and juicy.2. [C. Canbyi] (A). Leaves obovate, usually short-pointed at the broad apex, subcoriaceous; fruit short-oblong to obovoid, bright scarlet.3. [C. peoriensis] (A). Leaves oblong-obovate to oval, or broadly ovate, their petioles glandular with minute stipitate glands; fruit short-oblong to subglobose, orange-red, villose until nearly fully grown.4. [C. fecunda] (A). Anthers yellow. Leaves subcoriaceous. Leaves oval to elliptic, acute or acuminate; fruit short-oblong, green tinged with red.5. [C. regalis] (C). Leaves glabrous, obovate, acute, acuminate, or rounded at apex; fruit short-oblong, dull dark crimson.6. [C. arduennæ] (A). Leaves obovate to oblong-cuneiform, rounded or acute at apex; fruit subglobose to obovoid, dull red, or green flushed with red.7. [C. algens] (A, C). Leaves broadly oval to oblong, rounded or acute or short-pointed at apex; fruit subglobose, dull green tinged with red or cherry-red.8. [C. Palmeri] (C). Leaves thin. Leaves ovate to obovate, acute, dull green above; fruit subglobose, flattened at the ends, dark dull crimson.9. [C. erecta] (A). Leaves oval to oblong-obovate, acute or acuminate, lustrous above; fruit short-oblong, rounded at the ends, bright scarlet.10. [C. acutifolia] (A). Stamens 20. Anthers rose color. Leaves broad-obovate, coarsely serrate; corymbs many-flowered; anthers large, bright rose color; fruit green tinged with dull red.11. [C. Bushii] (C). Leaves narrow-obovate, finely serrate; corymbs few-flowered; anthers small pale rose color; fruit crimson, lustrous.12. [C. Cocksii] (C). Anthers yellow. Leaves oblong-obovate to oblanceolate; calyx-lobes slender, elongated.13. [C. arborea] (C). Leaves oblong-obovate; calyx-lobes short and broad.14. [C. uniqua] (C). Corymbs, leaves, and branchlets more or less villose or pubescent through the season. Stamens 10. Anthers rose color or pink. Leaves finely crenately serrate, scabrate above; anthers rose color.15. [C. Engelmannii] (A). Leaves coarsely serrate with straight teeth, glabrous above; anthers pink.16. [C. montivaga] (C). Anthers yellow (doubtful in 17 and 18). Leaves oval, oblong-obovate or elliptic, acute, thin to subcoriaceous; fruit globose to subglobose, orange-red.17. [C. denaria] (C). Leaves obovate to obovate-cuneiform, rounded or acute at apex, thin; fruit short-oblong, dark red, more or less pruinose.18. [C. signata] (C). Stamens 20. Anthers rose color. Leaves oblong-obovate, acute, scabrate; fruit short-oblong, dull green tinged with red, slightly pruinose.19. [C. edita] (C). Leaves oblong to obovate-cuneiform, rounded and obtuse or occasionally acute at apex, glabrous or scabrate above; fruit globose to subglobose or short-oblong, dark red.20. [C. tersa] (C). Anthers yellow. Leaves oblong-obovate, rounded or gradually narrowed at apex, subcoriaceous, pale below; fruit subglobose, orange color with a red cheek.21. [C. berberifolia] (C). Leaves oblong or obovate-cuneiform, rounded and obtuse or rarely acute at apex, coriaceous, glabrate or slightly scabrate above; fruit subglobose, orange or yellow with a red cheek.22. [C. edura] (C). Leaves oblong to obovate-cuneiform, rounded or acute at apex, subcoriaceous, glabrous or glabrate above, pale below; fruit ellipsoid to short-oblong, yellow.23. [C. crocina] (C). Leaves oblong to obovate-cuneiform, rounded or obtuse or rarely truncate at apex, coriaceous, scabrate above; fruit globose to subglobose, bright red or scarlet.24. [C. fera] (C). Leaves obovate, acute, thin to subcoriaceous; fruit subglobose to short-oblong, somewhat flattened at apex, bright orange-red.25. [C. Mohrii] (C).
1. [Cratægus Crus-galli] L. Cock-spur Thorn.
Leaves glabrous, obovate, acute or rounded at apex, cuneate and gradually narrowed to the slender entire base, and sharply serrate above with minute appressed usually gland-tipped teeth, when they unfold tinged with red, membranaceous and nearly fully grown when the flowers open about the 1st of June, and at maturity thick and coriaceous, dark green and lustrous above, pale below, reticulate-venulose, 1′—4′ long, and ¼′—1′ wide, with a slender midrib, and primary veins within the parenchyma; turning bright orange and scarlet in the autumn before falling; petioles stout, ½′—¾′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots acute or acuminate, coarsely serrate, often 5′—6′ long. Flowers ⅔′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in many-flowered glabrous corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, glabrous, the lobes linear-lanceolate, entire or minutely glandular-serrate; stamens 10; anthers rose color; styles usually 2, surrounded at base by tufts of pale hairs. Fruit ripening late in October and persistent on the branches until spring, short-oblong to subglobose, ½′ long, dull red often covered with a glaucous bloom; calyx little enlarged; nutlets usually 2, full and rounded at the ends, with a high rounded grooved ridge, ¼′ long.
A tree, sometimes 25° high, with a trunk a foot in diameter, covered with dark brown, scaly bark, stout rigid spreading branches forming a broad round-topped head, and glabrous, light brown or gray branchlets armed with stout straight or slightly curved sharp-pointed chestnut-brown or ashy gray spines 3′—4′ long and becoming on the trunk and large branches 6′—8′ in length and furnished with slender lateral spines.
Distribution. Usually on the slopes of low hills in rich soil; valley of the St. Lawrence River near Montreal, southward to Delaware and along the Appalachian foothills to North Carolina, and westward through western New York and Pennsylvania to southern Michigan.
A form, var. pyracanthifolia Ait., with narrower elliptic to obovate leaves acute or rounded at apex, and slightly pubescent while young on the upper side of the midrib, and with rather smaller flowers and smaller bright red fruit, is not rare in eastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware; a form, var. salicifolia Ait., cultivated in European gardens, but not known in a wild state, with thinner narrower and more elongated lanceolate or oblanceolate leaves, should also probably be referred to this species. A form, var. oblongata Sarg., with rather brighter colored oblong fruit often 1′ long, and nutlets acute at the ends, is not rare near Wilmington, Delaware, and at Durham, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A form, var. capillata Sarg., with thinner leaves, slightly villose corymbs, and 1 or rarely 2 nutlets, occurs near Wilmington, Delaware.
Often cultivated as an ornamental plant and for hedges in the eastern United States, and very frequently in the countries of eastern and northern Europe.
2. [Cratægus Canbyi] Sarg.
Leaves oblong-ovate to ovate, obovate or oval, acute, acuminate or rarely rounded at apex, gradually narrowed, cuneate and entire at base, and coarsely often doubly serrate above the middle, more than half grown when the flowers open about the 1st of May and then glabrous or very rarely with a few scattered hairs on the upper side of the midrib and on the corymbs, and at maturity coriaceous, glabrous, dark green and very lustrous above, pale and dull below, 2′—2½′ long, and 1′—1½′ wide, with a thick pale midrib, and 4 or 5 pairs of remote primary veins conspicuous on the lower surface; petioles glandular with scattered dark red persistent glands, red below the middle, ½′—¾′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots often deeply and irregularly divided into broad acute lobes, and frequently 3′—4′ long and 2′ wide. Flowers ⅝′ in diameter, on long slender pedicels, in broad loose many-flowered long-branched corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes entire or serrate with minute scattered glandular teeth; stamens usually 10, occasionally 12 or 13; anthers, small, rose color; styles 3—5. Fruit ripening in October but persistent until after the beginning of winter, on elongated slender stems, in loose many-fruited drooping clusters, short-oblong to subglobose, rounded at the ends, with a distinct depression at the insertion of the stalk, lustrous, dark crimson, marked by occasional large pale dots, ½′—⅝′ long; calyx-lobes reflexed, closely appressed, often deciduous before the fruit ripens; flesh thick, bright red, very juicy; nutlets 3—5, with a broad rounded ridge, bright chestnut-brown, about ¼′ long.
A bushy tree, sometimes 20° high, with a trunk 12′—18′ in diameter, large ascending wide-spreading branches forming a broad open irregular head occasionally 30°—35° in diameter, and glabrous chestnut-brown branchlets armed with thick usually straight chestnut-brown spines ¾′—1½′ long.
Distribution. Hedges and thickets near Wilmington, Newcastle County, Delaware; shores of Chesapeake Bay (near Perryville, Cecil County), Maryland, and in eastern Pennsylvania.
3. [Cratægus peoriensis] Sarg.
Leaves obovate, short-pointed or occasionally rounded at the broad apex, gradually narrowed, cuneate and entire below, sharply and often doubly serrate usually only above the middle, and sometimes irregularly lobed with short broad terminal lobes, when they unfold villose above, especially toward the base of the midrib, and bright bronze color, becoming at maturity thick and firm, glabrous, dark green and very lustrous above, pale below, 1½′—2′ long, and ¾′ wide, with 4 or 5 pairs of thin primary veins conspicuous on the under side and extending obliquely from the slender midrib to the end of the lobes; petioles usually about ¼′ in length, slightly glandular above the middle, and covered when they first appear with short pale deciduous hairs; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots deeply divided into broad acute lateral lobes, 2′—3′ long, and 1½′ wide. Flowers opening in May and June, cup-shaped, about ½′ in diameter, on slender elongated pedicels, in broad loose glabrous corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes narrow acuminate, entire or irregularly glandular-serrate, pubescent below the middle on the inner surface; stamens 10; anthers small, rose color; styles 2 or 3, surrounded at base by a narrow ring of pale tomentum. Fruit ripening early in October, on slender elongated pedicels, in drooping many-fruited clusters, short-oblong or obovoid, rounded at the ends, slightly depressed at the insertion of the stalk, bright scarlet, marked by many small dark dots, ½′—¾′ long; calyx-lobes enlarged, erect, incurved and persistent; flesh thick, nearly white, firm and dry; nutlets 2 or 3, about ¼′ long.
A tree, 20°—25° high, with a trunk occasionally 1° in diameter, stout spreading branches forming a broad flat-topped symmetrical head, and slender orange-brown branchlets armed with straight or slightly curved thin dull chestnut-brown spines 2′—2½′ long.
Distribution. Open woods, the moist borders of streams and depressions in the prairie, and on hillsides in clay soil, Short and Peoria Counties, Illinois.
4. [Cratægus fecunda] Sarg.
Leaves oblong-obovate to oval, or broad-ovate, acute or rarely rounded and short-pointed at apex, gradually or abruptly narrowed at base, and coarsely and usually doubly serrate except toward the base, when they unfold dark green, lustrous and roughened above by short pale appressed caducous hairs and pale yellow-green and villose on the midrib and primary veins below, about half grown when the flowers open early in May and at maturity thin and firm in texture, dark green and lustrous on the upper surface, pale yellow-green on the lower surface, 2′—2½′ long, and 1½′—2′ wide, with a stout midrib and remote primary veins after midsummer often bright red below; turning late in the autumn to brilliant shades of orange or scarlet or deep rich bronze color; petioles often glandular, at first coated with pale hairs, soon glabrous, dull red at maturity, ½′—¾′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots often slightly lobed with short broad acute lobes, convex by the hanging down of the margins, 3′—4′ long, and 2′—3′ wide. Flowers ¾′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in wide many-flowered slightly villose corymbs, with large glandular bracts and bractlets; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, more or less villose, the lobes elongated, acute, coarsely serrate with stipitate dark red glands, villose on the inner surface; stamens usually 10, occasionally 12—15; anthers small, dark rose color; styles 2 or 3. Fruit on slender pedicels often ½′ long, in broad many-fruited drooping clusters, short-oblong to subglobose, full and rounded at the ends, covered until nearly fully grown with long soft pale hairs, and at maturity orange-red marked by many small dark dots, ⅞′—1′ long; calyx-lobes linear-lanceolate, erect and incurved, coarsely glandular-serrate above the middle, dark red on the upper side toward the base; flesh very thick, firm and hard, pale green; nutlets 2 or 3, ⅓′ long.
A tree, 20°—25° high, with a trunk 10′—12′ in diameter, covered with dark brown scaly bark, stout wide-spreading branches forming a broad symmetrical round-topped rather open head, and stout branchlets covered at first with soft matted pale hairs, soon glabrous, light orange-green, becoming ashy gray in their second season, and armed with numerous very slender straight or slightly curved chestnut-brown shining spines 2′—2½′ long.
Distribution. Rich woodlands near Allenton, St. Louis County, Missouri, and on the bottom-lands of the Mississippi River, St. Claire County, Illinois.
5. [Cratægus regalis] Beadl.
Leaves oval to elliptic, acute or acuminate at apex, gradually narrowed and concave-cuneate at the entire base, and coarsely, often doubly serrate above with acute straight or incurved teeth, when they unfold tinged with red and sparingly villose above and on the midrib below, soon glabrous, nearly fully grown when the flowers open at the end of April, becoming at maturity thick and firm or subcoriaceous, bright green and lustrous on the upper surface, pale on the lower surface, 1½′—2½′ long, and 1′—1¼′ wide, with a stout yellow midrib and primary veins; turning in the autumn yellow, orange, and brown; petioles stout, reddish brown toward the base, about 1′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots broadly oval, coarsely serrate, mostly slightly incisely lobed, 3′—4′ long, and 1½′—2′ wide, with a thicker midrib and veins. Flowers ½′ in diameter, on long slender pedicels, in broad many-flowered corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes linear-lanceolate, entire or remotely serrate; stamens 10; anthers yellow; styles 2 or 3. Fruit ripening in September or October, on slender stems, in few-fruited drooping clusters, short-oblong, ⅜′—½′ long, green tinged with red; calyx-lobes slightly enlarged, reflexed and often deciduous from the ripe fruit; flesh yellow, dry and mealy; nutlets 2 or 3, about ¼′ long.
A tree, often 20° high, with a tall trunk 8′—12′ in diameter, stout ascending or spreading branches forming a broad symmetrical head, and stout glabrous orange-brown branchlets armed with stout or slender nearly straight spines 1½′—2′ long.
Distribution. Low woods, northwestern Georgia and northern Alabama; common in the flat woods near Rome, Floyd County, Georgia.
6. [Cratægus arduennæ] Sarg.
Leaves obovate, acute, acuminate or rounded at apex, gradually narrowed from near the middle to the entire cuneate base, and finely crenulate-serrate above with glandular teeth, glabrous and deeply tinged with red as they unfold, nearly fully grown when the flowers open at the end of May or early in June, and at maturity subcoriaceous, dark green and very lustrous above, pale below, 1½′—2½′ long, and ½′—1′ wide, with a slender yellow midrib, and obscure primary veins mostly within the parenchyma; petioles stout, occasionally sparingly glandular, ¼′—⅝′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots mostly elliptic, short-pointed, coarsely serrate, usually laterally lobed, and often 2½′—3′ long, and 1½′—2′ wide, with a stout midrib and prominent slender primary veins. Flowers ½′—⅝′ in diameter, on long slender pedicels, in broad many-flowered glabrous corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes abruptly narrowed from the base, linear, acuminate, tipped with small dark red glands, entire or slightly and irregularly serrate; stamens 5—12; usually 10; anthers small, pale yellow; styles 1 or 2. Fruit on slender pedicels, in drooping many-fruited clusters, short-oblong, dull dark crimson, marked by large pale dots, about ½′ long, and ⅜′—½′ in diameter; calyx only slightly enlarged, the lobes reflexed and appressed; flesh thin and yellow; nutlet 1, gradually narrowed from the middle to the obtuse ends, grooved and irregularly ridged on the dorsal face, or 2 and then broad, rounded at the ends, with a high wide rounded ridge, about 5/16′ long.
A tree, sometimes 20° high, with a trunk 8′—12′ in diameter, covered with smooth light gray bark, spreading branches forming a round-topped head, and slender slightly zigzag branchlets light orange-green when they first appear, becoming dark purple and lustrous and ultimately grayish brown, and armed with many slender straight or slightly curved dark purple-brown shining spines 1′—2′ long.
Distribution. Central and northern Missouri, northern Illinois, northeastern Indiana (Allen County), southeastern Michigan, southern Ontario, through Ohio to western New York (South Buffalo, Erie County), and in eastern Pennsylvania (Berks County).
7. [Cratægus algens] Beadl.
Leaves obovate to oblong or elliptic, rounded or acute at apex, gradually narrowed and concave-cuneate at the entire base, sharply serrate above, villose on the upper side of the midrib and nearly full grown when the flowers open at the end of May, and at maturity glabrous, subcoriaceous, dark green and lustrous above, pale below, 1½′—2′ long, and ¾′—1¼′ wide, with a thin midrib and slender primary veins; turning in the autumn to shades of orange, yellow, and brown; petioles slender, rarely glandular with minute glands, about ¼′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots oblong-obovate, rounded or abruptly short-pointed at apex, coarsely serrate, and often 3′ long and 1½′ wide. Flowers ½′ in diameter, on slender elongated pedicels, in broad many-flowered glabrous corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, glabrous, the lobes slender, acuminate, entire or remotely serrate; stamens 10; anthers yellow; styles 1-3. Fruit ripening in September and October, on slender pedicels, in few-fruited hanging clusters, subglobose to obovoid, ⅜′—½′ in diameter, dull red, or green flushed with red, ⅜′—½′ long; calyx somewhat enlarged, with reflexed persistent lobes; nutlets usually 1 or 2, prominently ridged on the back, ¼′—⅜′ long.
A tree, 15°—18° high, with a short trunk occasionally 7′—8′ in diameter, stout ascending wide-spreading branches forming a wide round-topped head, and stout glabrous bright chestnut-brown branchlets becoming gray in their second year, and armed with stout nearly straight spines 1′—2′ long.
Distribution. Borders of woods and fields; western North Carolina to northern Georgia and central Alabama (near Selma, Dallas County, common), and to eastern Tennessee; one of the commonest species in the neighborhood of Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina.
8. [Cratægus Palmeri] Sarg.
Leaves broadly oval to oblong, rounded, acute or short-pointed at apex, gradually narrowed and cuneate at the entire base, and coarsely serrate above with straight gland-tipped teeth, nearly fully grown when the flowers open during the first week in May, and then very thin, dark green and lustrous above, pale bluish green below, and at maturity coriaceous, dark green and lustrous on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface, 1½′—2′ long, and 1¼′—1¾′ wide, with a slender yellow midrib and 4 or 5 pairs of very thin primary veins; petioles stout, rose-colored in the autumn, about ⅜′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots oblong-ovate to elliptic, usually acute, coarsely serrate, occasionally laterally lobed, glandular at base, 2½′—3′ long, and 1½′—2′ wide. Flowers about ½′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in many-flowered corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes slender, acuminate, tipped with small dark glands, entire or slightly serrate; stamens 10; anthers pale yellow; styles 3, surrounded at base by a thin ring of pale tomentum. Fruit ripening in October, on slender elongated pedicels, in few-fruited drooping clusters, subglobose, dull green tinged with red or cherry-red, marked by large pale dots, about ⅓′ in diameter; calyx sessile, with erect and incurved lobes mostly persistent on the ripe fruit; nutlets 3, thin, acute at the ends, slightly and irregularly ridged on the back with a low grooved ridge, ¼′—5/16′ long.
A tree, sometimes 25° high, with a trunk often a foot in diameter, covered with smooth pale bark, stout wide-spreading branches forming a broad round-topped symmetrical head, and slender nearly straight glabrous, bright chestnut-brown branchlets armed with thin straight dark red-brown shining spines ¾′—3′ long.
Distribution. Southwestern Missouri, usually in low rich soil; common near Carthage and Webb City, Jasper County, and near Noel, McDonald County.
9. [Cratægus erecta] Sarg.
Leaves oval to obovate, acute and short-pointed at apex, cuneate and entire at base, and finely glandular-serrate, when they unfold often villose with a few short caducous pale hairs on the upper side of the midrib, nearly fully grown when the flowers open early in May, and at maturity thin and firm in texture, dark dull green on the upper surface, pale on the lower surface, 1½′—2′ long, and 1′—1¼′ wide, with a slender midrib, and thin prominent primary veins; in the autumn turning dull orange color; petioles slender, glandular with minute dark glands, usually dark red after midsummer, ¼′—½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots often nearly orbicular, coarsely serrate with broad nearly straight glandular teeth, and sometimes 3′ long and 2½′ wide. Flowers ½′—⅝′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in broad loose many-flowered glabrous corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes narrow, elongated, acuminate, entire or occasionally obscurely and irregularly serrate; stamens usually 10, occasionally 11—13; anthers small, pale yellow; styles 3 or 4, surrounded at base by a narrow ring of short pale hairs. Fruit on elongated pedicels, in few-fruited drooping clusters, subglobose and usually a little longer than broad, flattened at the ends, dark dull crimson marked by occasional dark-colored dots, ¼′—⅓′ long; calyx-tube short, the lobes closely appressed, gradually narrowed from a broad base and usually persistent on the ripe fruit; nutlets 3 or 4, with a broad high grooved ridge, 3/16′ long.
A tree, 25°—40° high, with a trunk 1°—3° in diameter, thick ascending branches forming a wide open rather symmetrical head, and bright chestnut-brown or orange-brown ultimately dark brown spreading branchlets armed with thin straight chestnut-brown spines 1′—2′ long.
Distribution. Rich bottom-lands of the Mississippi River, St. Claire County, Illinois (east St. Louis, near Fish Lake, and Kahokia); banks of Desperes River, south St. Louis, St. Louis County, and Osage, Cole County, Missouri.
10. [Cratægus acutifolia] Sarg.
Leaves oval to oblong-obovate, acute or acuminate or rarely rounded at apex, cuneate at the usually entire base, finely crenulate-serrate often only above the middle with glandular teeth, nearly fully grown when the flowers open about the 10th of May, and then membranaceous, and lustrous above, with occasional short scattered pale caducous hairs on the upper side of the midrib, and at maturity thin and firm, dark green and lustrous above, pale yellow-green below, about 1½′ long, and 1′ wide, with a slender light yellow midrib and about 4 or 5 pairs of thin primary veins; petioles glandular when they first appear with minute dark glands, ¼′—½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots frequently divided at apex into 2 or 3 pairs of short acute lobes, and often 3′ long and 2′ wide. Flowers ½′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in many-flowered compact corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes lanceolate, acuminate, entire or obscurely and irregularly glandular-serrate; stamens 10; anthers small, pale yellow; styles 2 or 3. Fruit ripening and falling at the end of September, on slender pedicels ½′—¾′ long, in few-fruited drooping clusters, short-oblong, full and rounded at the ends, bright scarlet, marked by occasional dark dots, ½′ long; calyx-tube prominent, with closely appressed lobes often deciduous before the fruit ripens; nutlets 2 or 3, with a broad rounded ridge, about 3/16′ long.
A tree, often 30° high, with a trunk 18′ in diameter, stout wide-spreading branches forming a symmetrical round-topped rather open head, and stout bright chestnut-brown branchlets dark gray-brown in their second year, and occasionally armed with scattered thin straight chestnut-brown spines 1′—2′ long.
Distribution. Open woods; banks of the Desperes River near Carondelet, St. Louis County, Missouri; in St. Claire County, Illinois (north of stock yards, East St. Louis, and near Kahokia).
11. [Cratægus Bushii] Sarg.
Leaves obovate, broad and rounded or acute at apex, or elliptic and acute, gradually narrowed from near the middle to the cuneate entire base, and coarsely serrate above, when they unfold dark green on the upper surface, pale on the lower surface, and villose with short white hairs on both sides of the midrib and veins, nearly fully grown when the flowers open at the end of April, and at maturity coriaceous, lustrous, glabrous, 1¼′—1½′ long, and ½′—1′ wide, with a stout yellow midrib and few slender prominent primary veins; petioles villose early in the season, becoming glabrous, usually about ½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots usually elliptic, acute, coarsely serrate, frequently 3′ long and 1½′ wide, with stouter and more broadly winged petioles. Flowers ¾′—1′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in broad many-flowered glabrous corymbs; calyx-tube broadly obconic, glabrous, the lobes elongated, linear-lanceolate, entire or occasionally slightly dentate; stamens 20; anthers large, bright rose color; styles two or three, surrounded at base by conspicuous tufts of white hairs. Fruit ripening late in October or in November, on slender pedicels about ½′ long, in few-fruited drooping clusters, short-oblong, green tinged with dull red, ⅓′ long, with only slightly enlarged erect and incurved calyx-lobes mostly deciduous before the fruit ripens; flesh thin, green, dry and hard; nutlets 2 or 3, with a high rounded ridge, ¼′ long.
A tree, 15°—20° high, with a trunk 8′—10′ in diameter, covered with dark scaly bark, small spreading branches forming a broad open irregular head, and nearly straight dull chestnut-brown branchlets gray-brown in their second year, and unarmed or sparingly armed with stout straight chestnut-brown spines 1½′—1¾′ long.
Distribution. Rich upland woods near Fulton, Hemstead County, southern Arkansas; Chopin, Natchitoches Parish, near Winn, Winnfield Parish, and Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana; in the neighborhood of Marshall, Harris County, Texas.
12. [Cratægus Cocksii] Sarg.
Leaves oblong-obovate, acute or rounded at apex, gradually narrowed and cuneate at base, finely serrate above the middle with straight acuminate teeth, glabrous, dark green and lustrous above, dull and paler below, 1′—1¼′ long, and ¼′—½′ wide, with a slender midrib, and primary veins mostly within the parenchyma; petioles slender, about ⅙′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots broad-obovate, rounded or abruptly short-pointed at apex, thicker, more coarsely serrate, often 1½′ long and 1′ wide. Flowers ½′—¾′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in compact few-flowered glabrous corymbs; calyx-tube broadly obconic, glabrous, the lobes oblong-ovate, gradually narrowed and acuminate, entire, sparingly villose on the inner surface; stamens 20, small, pale rose color; styles 2 or 3, surrounded at base by clusters of white hairs. Fruit ripening in October, on slender pedicels about ⅓′ in length, in few-fruited clusters, short-oblong to slightly obovoid, crimson, lustrous, ⅓′—½′ long, with spreading calyx-lobes mostly deciduous from the ripe fruit; nutlets 2 or 3, obovoid, acute at apex, rounded at base, prominently ridged on the back, ⅓′ long.
A slender tree, 20°—25° high, with a tall trunk 4′—6′ in diameter, with dark red-brown bark covered with small closely appressed scales, smooth slender drooping branches forming a broad open head, and slender bright red-brown pendulous branchlets becoming gray in their second year, and armed with straight slender dark chestnut-brown lustrous spines 1¼′—1¾′ in length.
Distribution. Low rich woods at the marble quarry near Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana.
Distinct in the Crus-galli Group in its head of slender pendulous branches.
13. [Cratægus arborea] Beadl.
Leaves obovate to oblanceolate, narrowed, acute or rounded at apex, gradually narrowed and concave-cuneate at the long tapering entire base, and finely serrate above the middle with minute straight teeth, nearly fully grown when the flowers open the middle of April and then glabrous, and at maturity subcoriaceous, bright green and lustrous above, pale below, 1¾′—2′ long, and about ¾′ wide; turning in the autumn orange, yellow, and brown; petioles ⅓′—⅔′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots coarsely serrate, occasionally slightly lobed, and often 3′ long and 1½′ wide. Flowers ½′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in broad many-flowered glabrous corymbs; calyx narrowly obconic, glabrous, the lobes slender, elongated, acuminate, slightly serrate; stamens 20; anthers pale yellow; styles usually 2. Fruit ripening in September and October, globose to subglobose, ¼′—⅓′ in diameter, red, the calyx enlarged, with elongated coarsely glandular-serrate reflexed lobes; nutlets usually 2, about ¼′ long.
A tree, sometimes 30° high, with a trunk 12′—18′ in diameter, spreading or ascending branches forming a broad handsome head, and branchlets orange-green in their first season, becoming reddish in their first winter, and usually unarmed.
Distribution. In open woods usually in clay soil near Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama.
14. [Cratægus uniqua] Sarg.
Leaves oblong-obovate, acute or occasionally rounded at apex, gradually narrowed to the long cuneate base, and finely serrate above the middle with straight or incurved glandular teeth, more than half grown and sparingly villose on the upper side of the midrib when the flowers open the middle of April, and at maturity glabrous, dark green and lustrous above, paler below, 1′—1½′ long, and ½′—¾′ wide, with a thin midrib, and slender primary veins mostly within the parenchyma; petioles slender, glabrous, ⅓′—½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots broad-obovate, rounded or acute at apex, coarsely serrate, 2′—2½′ long, and 1′—1¼′ wide. Flowers ⅖′—½′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in mostly 5—8-flowered glabrous corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes short and broad, acuminate, entire or slightly dentate near the middle, sparingly villose on the inner surface; stamens 20; anthers small, nearly white; styles 2 or 3. Fruit on slender drooping pedicels, short-oblong, rounded at the ends, dull red, about ½′ long and ⅓′ thick; calyx prominent, with reflexed closely appressed persistent lobes; flesh thin, dry and hard; nutlets 2 or 3, broad and rounded at base, narrowed at apex, about ¼′ long.
A tree, 18°—20° high, with a slender stem covered with close dark slightly ridged bark, small wide-spreading branches forming a flat-topped head, and slender slightly zigzag orange or red-brown branchlets unarmed, or armed with few or many straight or slightly curved dark chestnut-brown shining spines ½′—1′ in length.
Distribution. Woods in low sandy soil; eastern Texas (near Marshall, Harrison County, and Livingston, Polk County).
15. [Cratægus Engelmannii] Sarg.
Leaves oblong-obovate or rarely elliptic, rounded or often short-pointed and acute at apex, gradually narrowed or entire below, finely crenulate-serrate usually only above the middle and generally only at the apex, nearly fully grown and roughened on the upper surface by short rigid pale hairs when the flowers open about the middle of May, and at maturity coriaceous, dark green, lustrous and scabrate above, pale below, and pilose on both surfaces of the slender midrib and obscure primary veins and veinlets, 1′—1½′ long, and ½′—1′ wide; petioles glandular, villose when they first appear, soon glabrous, usually about ¼′ in length. Flowers ¾′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in broad loose 8—11-flowered villose corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, villose or nearly glabrous, the lobes narrow, acuminate, entire, glabrous on the outer surface, usually puberulous on the inner surface; stamens 10; anthers small, rose color; styles 2 or 3. Fruit ripening early in November, on slender pedicels, in drooping many-fruited glabrous clusters, globose or short-oblong, bright orange-red, with a yellow cheek, about ⅓′ in diameter; calyx prominent, with large spreading lobes usually deciduous before the fruit ripens; nutlets 2 or 3, thick, with a broad rounded ridge, ¼′ long.
A tree, 15°—20° high, with a trunk 5′—6′ in diameter, wide-spreading usually horizontal branches forming a low flat-topped or rounded head, and branchlets covered with long pale hairs when they first appear, soon glabrous and bright red-brown, becoming gray or gray tinged with red during their second year, and armed with numerous stout straight or slightly curved spines 1½′—2½′ long.
Distribution. Dry limestone slopes and ridges; common near Allenton and Pacific, St. Louis and Franklin counties, Missouri; near Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.
16. [Cratægus montivaga] Sarg.
Leaves obovate to oval, rhombic or suborbicular, rounded, acute or acuminate or abruptly short-pointed at apex, concave-cuneate at base, and sharply coarsely serrate usually to below the middle with straight acuminate glandular teeth, covered above with short white hairs and glabrous below when they unfold, and at maturity dark green, lustrous and scabrate above, pale yellow-green below, 1′—1¼′ long, and ¾′—1′ wide, with a slender midrib and prominent primary veins; petioles slender, villose early in the season, becoming glabrous, about ¼′ in length. Flowers opening late in April, about ½′ in diameter, on villose pedicels ¼′—½′ long, in compact mostly 7—10-flowered villose corymbs, their bracts and bractlets linear-obovate, conspicuously glandular-serrate; calyx-tube broadly obconic, glabrous or with occasional hairs near the base, the lobes gradually narrowed from a wide base, glandular-serrate, sometimes laciniate near the acuminate apex, glabrous on the outer surface, villose on the inner surface; stamens 10—15, usually 10; anthers pink; styles 2 or 3. Fruit ripening late in September or in October, on erect nearly glabrous or villose pedicels, short-oblong to ellipsoid, orange-red, about ⅓′ long; the calyx enlarged and conspicuous; flesh thin, yellow-green; nutlets 2 or 3, rounded at apex, with a low broad rounded ridge, about ¼′ long.
A bushy tree, rarely more than 12°—15° high, with a short trunk 10′—12′ in diameter, erect and spreading branches, and slender nearly straight branchlets orange-brown and covered with long scattered pale hairs when they first appear, dull red-brown and glabrous at the end of their first season, becoming gray the following year. Bark of the branches smooth and dark brown, becoming slightly scaly on the trunk.
Distribution. Rocky banks of streams; western Texas (Comal, Kendall, Bandera, Edwards, Brown and Calhoun Counties, and on the Davis Mountains, Jeff Davis County); common on the banks of the Guadalupe and other streams on the Edwards Plateau.
Interesting as the extreme southwestern representative of the Crus-galli Group, and its only species in western Texas.
17. [Cratægus denaria] Beadl.
Leaves oval, oblong-obovate or elliptic, acute or acuminate at apex, gradually narrowed from near the middle and cuneate and entire below, and coarsely often doubly serrate above with straight teeth, when they unfold tinged with red and slightly pilose above and glabrous below, nearly fully grown when the flowers open toward the end of May, and at maturity firm to subcoriaceous, bright green and lustrous on the upper surface, pale on the lower surface, 2½′—3′ long, and ¾′—1¼′ wide, with a slender midrib and few remote thin primary veins; turning in the autumn orange, yellow, or brown; petioles stout, conspicuously glandular, and about ¼′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots broadly oval to ovate or obovate, occasionally incisely lobed, 2½′—3′ long, and 1½′—2′ wide. Flowers ½′—⅔′ in diameter, on long slender pedicels, in broad lax many-flowered sparingly villose corymbs; calyx narrowly obconic, glabrous, the lobes slender, elongated, acuminate and glandular at apex, mostly entire or slightly serrate below; stamens usually 10; styles 3—5. Fruit on long slender pedicels, in drooping few-fruited clusters, globose to subglobose, ¼′—5/16′ in diameter, orange-red, the calyx somewhat enlarged, with spreading or closely appressed lobes; nutlets 3—5, slightly ridged on the back, about 3/16′ long.
A tree, 18°—20° high, with a trunk sometimes 8′ in diameter, spreading branches, and branchlets sparingly villose with long matted white hairs when they first appear, soon glabrous, and unarmed or armed with occasional straight slender spines about 1½′ long.
Distribution. Banks of streams, eastern Mississippi; common in the neighborhood of Columbus, Lowndes County.
18. [Cratægus signata] Beadl.
Leaves obovate to elliptic, rounded and often short-pointed or acute at apex, gradually narrowed from near the middle and cuneate at the entire base, and sharply glandular-serrate usually only above the middle, about half grown when the flowers open early in April, and then gray-green and coated above and on the lower side of the midrib and principal veins with short pale hairs, and at maturity thin and firm in texture, dark green, lustrous and slightly pilose above, paler and pubescent below on the slender midrib and 2—5 pairs of primary veins, 1½′—2′ long, and ¾′—1′ wide; petioles slender, grooved above, glandular, usually about ⅓′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots often broad-ovate to elliptic, coarsely dentate or sometimes incisely lobed, frequently 2½′ long and 2′ wide. Flowers about ¾′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in few-flowered compact hairy corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, villose with long matted hairs, the lobes narrow, acute, entire or irregularly glandular-serrate, usually glabrous on the outer surface, villose on the inner surface; stamens 10; styles 3—5, surrounded at base by a few pale hairs. Fruit ripening and falling toward the end of October, in few-fruited drooping slightly villose clusters, short-oblong, rounded at the ends, dark red, more or less pruinose, marked by numerous pale dots, and about ½′ long; calyx enlarged, with elongated closely appressed lobes usually persistent on the ripe fruit; flesh thin and yellow; nutlets 3—5, prominently ridged and grooved on the back, about ¼′ long.
A tree, usually 15°—18° high, with a tall trunk 4′—5′ in diameter, covered with ashy gray bark, often nearly black near the base of old stems, and separating freely into thin plate-like scales, numerous ascending or spreading branches forming a round-topped or oval compact head, and stout chestnut-brown branchlets armed with stout, nearly straight bright chestnut-brown spines 1′—2′ long.
Distribution. Open glades and dry copses of the Pine-covered coast-plain of southern Alabama.
19. [Cratægus edita] Sarg.
Leaves oblong-obovate or rarely elliptic, acute at the gradually narrowed apex, gradually narrowed from near the middle to the cuneate entire base, and coarsely and often doubly serrate above, when the flowers open from the 15th to the 20th of April lustrous and scabrate on the upper surface with short rigid pale hairs and puberulous on the lower surface, and at maturity coriaceous, dark green, lustrous, and slightly roughened above, pale yellow-green and scabrate below, 1½′—2′ long, and ½′—1′ wide; petioles stout, villose, becoming pubescent or puberulous, ⅓′—½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots often slightly divided into lateral lobes, more coarsely serrate and sometimes 3′ long, and 1½′ wide, with stout broadly winged petioles. Flowers ½′—⅔′ in diameter, on slender villose pedicels, in villose few-flowered narrow corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, glabrous or slightly hairy toward the base, the lobes linear-lanceolate, usually entire or obscurely glandular-serrate, glabrous on the outer surface and puberulous on the inner surface; stamens 20; anthers small, rose color; styles 2 or 3. Fruit ripening early in October or in November, on stout glabrous or slightly villose pedicels usually about ½′ long, in drooping few-fruited clusters, short-oblong, rounded at the ends, slightly pruinose, dull green tinged with red, ¼′—⅓′ long, with a prominent calyx-tube and elongated spreading lobes puberulous on the inner surface and often deciduous before the ripening of the fruit; flesh very thin, green, dry and hard; nutlets 2 or 3, with a broad low rounded ridge, ¼′ long.
A tree, in low moist ground sometimes 40° high, with a trunk 1° in diameter, free of branches for 18°—20°, stout horizontal branches forming a broad round symmetrical head, and nearly straight branchlets villose when they first appear, soon glabrous, light chestnut-brown becoming dark gray-brown in their second or third year, and armed with stout or slender straight chestnut-brown spines 1′—2′ long; or on the dry soil of low hills much smaller and generally 20°—25° high.
Distribution. Low wet woods on the borders of streams, and on dry hills in forests of Oak and Pine; near Marshall, Harris County, Texas; Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.
20. [Cratægus tersa] Beadl.
Leaves oblong to obovate, rounded and obtuse at apex, gradually narrowed to the concave-cuneate entire base, and coarsely serrate above with acute or rounded teeth, when they unfold tinged with red, sparingly villose above and tomentulose below, nearly fully grown when the flowers open the middle of April, and at maturity coriaceous, dark green, lustrous, and glabrous or scabrate above, pale and pubescent below, 1½′—2′ long, and 1′—1¼′ wide, with a slender midrib and thin primary veins; turning in the autumn yellow, orange, and brown; petioles stout, at first hoary-tomentose, glabrous at maturity, about ½′ in length; leaves on the end of vigorous shoots, broad-obovate, short-pointed at the rounded apex, often 2′ long and 1½′ wide, with a prominent midrib and primary veins. Flowers ⅝′—¾′ in diameter, on short stout hairy pedicels, in usually 8—10-flowered very compact corymbs densely clothed with long matted pale hairs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, villose, the lobes acuminate, glandular-serrate, villose on the outer and slightly pilose on the inner surface; stamens 18—20; anthers pale rose color, styles usually 2 or 3. Fruit ripening in October, on stout glabrous stems, in compact drooping few-fruited clusters, globose to subglobose or short-oblong, about ⅜′ long, dark red; calyx prominent, with enlarged erect or spreading glandular-serrate lobes; flesh thin, yellow, dry and mealy; nutlets 2 or 3, mostly obtuse and rounded at the ends, about ¼′ long.
A tree, sometimes 18°—20° high, with a trunk 6′—8′ in diameter, spreading branches forming a broad flat-topped head, and stout chestnut-brown branchlets at first pilose, becoming glabrous before autumn, and usually unarmed.
Distribution. Low woods west of Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
21. [Cratægus berberifolia] T. & G.
Leaves oblong-obovate to elliptic, rounded or gradually narrowed at apex, narrowed from above the middle to the cuneate entire base, and serrate above with straight or incurved teeth, nearly fully grown when the flowers open at the end of March or early in April and then roughened above by short rigid white hairs, and whitish and pubescent below, and at maturity subcoriaceous, dark green, lustrous and nearly glabrous on the upper surface, pale and pubescent on the lower surface especially on the thin midrib and slender primary veins, 1½′—2′ long, and ¾′—1′ wide; petioles comparatively slender, at first densely villose, becoming glabrous, usually about ½′ in length. Flowers ½′—⅔′ in diameter, on slender villose pedicels, in compact mostly 4—5-flowered villose corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, thickly coated with long matted pale hairs, the lobes slender, acuminate, sparingly villose or nearly glabrous on the outer surface, villose on the inner surface, entire or slightly serrate; stamens 20; anthers yellow; styles 2 or 3, surrounded at base by a narrow ring of pale hairs. Fruit ripening early in October, on slender pedicels, in few-fruited drooping puberulous clusters, subglobose, orange with a red cheek, about ½′ in diameter; calyx-tube slightly enlarged, with spreading or incurved lobes; flesh thin and yellow; nutlets 2 or 3, slightly ridged on the back, about ¼′ long.
A tree, 20°—25° high, with a tall trunk 8′—10′ in diameter, covered with dark gray scaly bark, stout branches spreading into a broad flat-topped head, and slender branchlets covered at first with matted white hairs, becoming glabrous and light orange-brown at the end of their first season, and pale gray-brown the following year, and unarmed or armed with occasional slender nearly straight red-brown spines 1′—1½′ long.
Distribution. Borders of prairies and low moist soil a few miles west of Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
22. [Cratægus edura] Beadl.
Leaves oblong-obovate, rounded and obtuse or occasionally acute at apex, gradually narrowed from above the middle to the cuneate base, and serrate only at the apex, nearly fully grown when the flowers open early in April and then thin, dark green and puberulous above especially on the midrib, very pale and villose below, and at maturity thick and coriaceous, 1¼′—1½′ long, and 1½′—1¾′ wide, with a slender midrib, and primary veins within the parenchyma; turning in the autumn orange, yellow, or brown; petioles slender, light yellow, pilose, ⅛′—¼′ in length. Flowers ⅜′—½′ in diameter, on short sparingly villose pedicels, in compact hairy 5—12-flowered corymbs; calyx narrowly obconic, glabrous or with a few hairs at the base, the lobes narrow, acuminate, glabrous; stamens 16—20; anthers pale yellow or nearly white; styles 2 or 3. Fruit ripening and falling in September, in few-fruited drooping clusters, subglobose, orange or yellow with a red cheek, about 5/16′ in diameter; calyx-lobes little enlarged, closely appressed, often deciduous; nutlets 2 or 3, rather obscurely ridged on the back, about ¼′ long.
A tree, 20°—25° high, with a trunk 6′—8′ in diameter, branches spreading out into a broad flat-topped head, and branchlets pilose when they first appear, soon glabrous, becoming reddish brown, unarmed or armed with chestnut-brown or gray spines 1½′—2′ long.
Distribution. Low woods near Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
23. [Cratægus crocina] Beadl.
Leaves oblong-obovate, rounded or acute at apex, gradually narrowed and cuneate at the slender entire base, and sharply serrate above the middle with straight or incurved glandular teeth, when they unfold more or less pubescent, and at maturity subcoriaceous, dark green, lustrous and glabrous or glabrate above, pale and covered below with short matted pale hairs most abundant on the thin midrib and obscure primary veins, 1¼′—2′ long, and ½′—1′ wide; turning in the autumn orange, yellow, or brown; petioles slender, puberulous, about ¼′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots elliptic to oblong-obovate, acuminate more coarsely serrate, often 2½′ long and ⅚′ wide. Flowers opening at the end of April when the leaves are fully grown, ½′—⅝′ in diameter, on short villose pedicels, in compact few-flowered villose corymbs; calyx narrowly obconic, coated with matted white hairs, the lobes narrow, acute, entire or sparingly serrate, glabrous on the outer surface, slightly villose on the inner surface toward the apex; stamens 20; anthers yellow; styles usually 2 or 3. Fruit ripening in October, ellipsoidal or short-oblong, nearly ½′ long, yellow, the calyx prominent, with elongated mostly recurved lobes; nutlets usually 2, narrowed and acute at the ends, ridged on the back, about ¼′ long.
A tree, 18°—20° high, with a short trunk 4′—6′ in diameter, spreading branches forming a wide flat-topped head, and slender mostly unarmed branchlets covered at first with matted pale hairs, and dark orange-brown and puberulous in their first winter.
Distribution. Low woods near Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
24. [Cratægus fera] Beadl.
Leaves oblong-obovate, rounded or rarely acute at apex, gradually narrowed and concave-cuneate at the slender entire base, and sharply serrate above the middle with straight or incurved teeth, fully grown when the flowers open the middle of April and then thin, covered above by short white hairs, and slightly villose along the midrib and veins below, and at maturity coriaceous, dark green, scabrate and lustrous on the upper surface, pale and puberulous on the lower surface on the slender midrib and obscure primary veins, 2½′—3′ long, and about ¾′ wide; turning in the autumn orange, yellow, or brown; petioles slender, pubescent early in the season, becoming puberulous, ⅜′—⅝′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots oblong-obovate, rounded or acute and often short-pointed at apex, coarsely serrate, often 2½′ long, and 1¼′ wide. Flowers: ½′ in diameter, on long slender villose pedicels, in broad lax compound many-flowered corymbs covered more or less thickly with white hairs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, slightly hairy near the base, glabrous above, the lobes narrow, acuminate, entire or sparingly glandular-dentate, glabrous on the outer surface and puberulous on the inner surface; stamens 16—20; anthers light yellow; styles usually 2 or 3. Fruit ripening in September and October, on long slender pedicels, in few-fruited drooping clusters, globose or subglobose, bright red or scarlet, ⅜′ in diameter; flesh thin and mealy; calyx enlarged, with spreading or erect persistent lobes; nutlets 2 or 3, with a high narrow ridge, ¼′—5/16′ long.
A tree, sometimes 20° high, with a trunk 8′—9′ in diameter, spreading branches forming a broad flat-topped head, and slender nearly straight branchlets, villose at first, becoming glabrous, pale reddish brown, ultimately ashy gray, and sometimes armed with slender straight spines 1′—1¼′ long.
Distribution. Low open Oak and Hickory woods near Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, and Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.
25. [Cratægus Mohrii] Beadl.
Leaves obovate or rhombic, acute or acuminate, gradually narrowed and cuneate at the entire base, and coarsely, occasionally doubly serrate above with straight or incurved teeth, when they unfold glabrous and slightly villose along the midrib and the lower side of the principal veins, nearly fully grown when the flowers open early in May, and at maturity thin and firm or subcoriaceous, dark green and very lustrous above, pale below, 1′—1½′ long, and ⅔′—1′ wide, usually with 4 pairs of thin primary veins, a stout midrib sometimes puberulous on the under side and bright red in the autumn; petioles frequently red at maturity, ⅓′—½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots sometimes 3′ long and 2′ wide, mostly broad-elliptic, acute or acuminate, coarsely doubly serrate, and frequently divided toward the apex into short broad acute lobes; petioles, strait, glandular; petioles broadly winged, and occasionally glandular with minute dark glands. Flowers cup-shaped, about ¾′ in diameter, on slender elongated pedicels, in loose thin-branched many-flowered glabrous or villose corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, glabrous or occasionally pilose toward the base, the lobes linear-lanceolate, entire or finely glandular-serrate; stamens 20; anthers small, light yellow; styles 3—5, surrounded at base by a narrow ring of pale hairs. Fruit ripening about the middle of October, gracefully drooping on elongated thin bright red pedicels, in many-fruited clusters, subglobose to short-oblong, somewhat flattened at apex, full and rounded at base, bright orange-red, about ⅓′ in diameter; calyx prominent, with a short tube and usually erect lobes often deciduous before the fruit ripens; nutlets usually 3, about ¼′ long.
A tree, from 20°—30° high, with a tall straight trunk 6′—8′ in diameter, covered with thin ashy gray or light red-brown bark, sometimes armed with long slender or branched spines, spreading slightly pendulous branches forming a rather open broad symmetrical head, and branchlets furnished with thin nearly straight bright chestnut-brown shining spines 1′—1½′ long.
Distribution. Western Georgia to central Alabama and eastern Mississippi, and northward to middle Tennessee; abundant and of its largest size in the low flat woods near Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, ascending into the poorer and drier soils of the neighboring hillsides and low mountain slopes.