III. ÆSTIVALES.
CONSPECTUS OF THE ARBORESCENT SPECIES.
Leaves glabrous with the exception of small axillary tufts of pale hairs on the lower surface, oblong-obovate; stamens 15—20; anthers pink or pale rose color.38. [C. æstivalis] (C). Leaves hoary-tomentose below early in the season, becoming villose with rufous hairs most abundant on the midrib and veins; stamens 20; anthers deep rose color. Leaves oblong-obovate, acute or broad and rounded at apex, often slightly lobed above the middle, lustrous above; pedicels villose-pubescent.39. [C. rufula] (C). Leaves elliptic to oblong-cuneiform, narrowed at apex, dull above; pedicels glabrous.40. [C. opaca] (C).
38. [Cratægus æstivalis] Sarg. May Haw. Apple Haw.
Mespilus æstivalis Walt.
Leaves oblong-obovate, rounded or acute at apex, gradually narrowed and cuneate at base, glabrous with the exception of small axillary tufts of pale hairs, and coarsely crenately serrate above the middle with gland-tipped teeth, beginning to unfold as the flowers open the middle of March, and when the fruit ripens at the end of May thin, dark green and lustrous above, yellow-green below, 1¼′—2′ long, and ⅓′—¾′ wide, with a slender yellow midrib and obscure primary veins; petioles slender, narrow wing-margined to below the middle, rarely furnished with occasional deciduous glands, about ¼′ in length; leaves at the ends of vigorous shoots elliptic to oblong-obovate, acute and usually abruptly short-pointed at apex, concave-cuneate at base, often lobed with one or two lateral lobes. Flowers ¾′ in diameter, on pedicels about ⅓′ long, in compact 2 or 3-flowered corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, glabrous, the lobes gradually narrowed from a broad base, short, entire, without glands, acute or acuminate and often red at apex, persistent and red on the fruit; stamens 15—20; anthers large, pink or pale rose color; styles usually 3. Fruit on a short slender erect pedicel, about ⅓′ long, usually solitary, short-oblong, scarlet, lustrous, about ⅓′ in length, the calyx persistent with erect lobes; flesh yellow, juicy, acidulous; nutlets usually 3, acute at ends, rounded and slightly ridged on the back, ¼′ long.
A slender tree, 20°—25° high, with a tall stem 6′—8′ in diameter, covered with pale flaky bark, erect or slightly spreading branches forming a narrow head, and slender straight or slightly zigzag branchlets chestnut-brown and lustrous during their first season, and dull gray-brown the following year, and armed with stout straight gray spines ½′—1¼′ in length.
Distribution. Low river banks, the borders of swamps and in depressions filled with water during most of the year; banks of the Ogeechee River near Meldrim, Effingham County, and near Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia; swamp of the Combahee River near Yemassee, Hampton County, and near Aiken, Aiken County, South Carolina; pond holes eight or nine miles west of Newbern, Craven County, North Carolina; passing into var. maloides Sarg. with young leaves tinged with red and villose along the upper side of the midrib, those at the end of vigorous shoots sometimes broad-obovate, rounded and divided at apex into 3 short rounded lobes, longer acuminate calyx-lobes and dark red anthers. Wet prairies, Volusia County, Florida; and into var. cerasoides Sarg. differing in the presence of short white hairs on the upper surface of the young leaves, in the longer acuminate calyx-lobes slightly villose on the inner surface and often minutely serrate near the middle, in the dark rose-colored anthers, and the late ripening fruit up to ½′ in diameter, on drooping pedicels often ½′ in length. An arborescent shrub with a round-topped head 30°—40° across, numerous large erect and spreading stems often 30° high, covered with smooth pale bark separating into thin plate-like scales, in falling disclosing the dull red inner bark, and slender nearly straight glabrous branchlets armed with straight slender spines 1′—1½′ in length. Fruit ripening late in July and in August. Low, wet, often inundated prairies near Sewall, Valusia County, Bradfordville, Leon County, Jasper, Hamilton County, and Quincy, Gadsden County, Florida. A form of this variety growing in Valusia County (f. luculenta Sarg.) differs in the more numerous hairs on the upper surface of the young leaves, in the rather smaller flowers, smaller and less juicy fruit ripening at the end of June or early in July, and in its often arborescent habit.