Calyx quinquefidus. Petala quinque. Bacca infera, 1-5-sperma.
Cup five-cleft. Blossom five petals. Berry below, with from 1 to 5 seeds.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Cratægus foliis obtusis, subtrifidis, dentatis, pubescentibus.
Cratægus with blunt, pubescent, toothed leaves generally 3-cleft.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A flower spread open.
2. The same shown from the outer side.
The Azarole grows naturally in Italy, in the South of France, in Carniola, and on the banks of the Tanais in the Russian empire where it was found by Gerber in 1741. It grows to be a tree of rather small size, and is much cultivated in Italy, in the South of France, and in Sicily, for the sake of the fruit, which is as large as a cherry, of a fine red colour with sometimes a tinge of yellow, and is said to have a very agreeable flavour. At present the Azarole is very scarce in this country, and we have never seen it in blossom but at Burchall’s nursery at Fulham, in May 1808, when our drawing was made. This year the plant has produced no blossoms. To those who are desirous of cultivating the Azarole, and adding another variety to their deserts, we would recommend planting it in well sheltered situations; or perhaps training against a wall, as practised for peaches and other delicate fruits, would be still better. Considerable trees of the Azarole formerly existed in His Majesty’s Gardens at Kew, and in those of the Duke or Northumberland at Sion House; and we have lately seen the remains of one in Mr. Swainson’s collection at Twickenham; but we are not aware that any exist at present in England. That of Plenck excepted, in His Medical Plants, Pl. 390, we believe no other coloured figure of it has before been published.