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.
II. PUNCTATÆ.
CONSPECTUS OF THE ARBORESCENT SPECIES.
- Fruit usually short-oblong.
- Anthers rose color or yellow; stamens 20; leaves obovate, often acutely lobed above the middle, their veins deeply impressed; fruit on stout pedicels, short-oblong to subglobose, flattened at the ends, dull red or bright yellow, marked by large pale dots.
- 26. C. punctata (A).
- Anthers rose color; stamens 10—20; leaves oblong-obovate or oval, their veins not deeply impressed, fruit on long slender pedicels, short-oblong to obovoid, rounded at the ends, dull brick-red, marked by large pale dots.
- 27. C. pausiaca (A).
- Fruit usually globose or subglobose.
- Stamens 20.
- Anthers pale yellow.
- Corymbs villose.
- Leaves obovate to oval or rarely rhombic, acute; fruit globose, or sometimes broader than high, dull red, marked by small pale dots.
- 28. C. collina (A, C).
- Leaves obovate, oval, or ovate, acute or acuminate, incisely lobed; fruit globose, dull red.
- 29. C. amnicola (C).
- Corymbs glabrous; leaves broadly oval to ovate, rounded or acute at apex, occasionally rounded at base, subcoriaceous; fruit subglobose to short-oblong, dull orange-red, marked by large pale dots.
- 30. C. fastosa (C).
- Anthers rose color.
- Leaves scabrate on the upper surface.
- Leaves ovate, oval or rarely obovate, acuminate; flowers in compact usually 6—8-flowered corymbs.
- 31. C. silvestris (A).
- Leaves obovate to rhombic, acute or rarely rounded at apex; flowers in wide usually 9—12-flowered corymbs.
- 32. C. verruculosa.
- Leaves glabrous on the upper surface.
- Corymbs slightly villose.
- Leaves obovate to rhombic, acute or rounded at apex; fruit globose, dark dull red.
- 33. C. sordida (C).
- Leaves oval to obovate, acute or acuminate at apex; fruit often rather longer than broad, bright canary-yellow.
- 34. C. brazoria (C).
- Corymbs densely villose; leaves obovate, acute, acuminate or rounded at apex; fruit subglobose, dark dull red.
- 35. C. dallasiana (C).
- Stamens 10.
- Anthers pale yellow; leaves obovate, acute or acuminate or rounded and short-pointed at apex; fruit subglobose, pubescent at the ends, dull orange-red.
- 36. C. Lettermanii (A).
- Anthers rose color; leaves oblong-obovate, acute or rounded at apex; fruit globose, bright scarlet, slightly pruinose.
- 37. C. pratensis (A).
26. Cratægus punctata Jacq.
Leaves obovate, pointed or rounded at apex, gradually narrowed to the cuneate entire base, sharply and often doubly serrate above the middle with minute teeth, and sometimes more or less incisely lobed, thickly covered below with pale hairs and pilose above when hey unfold, about half grown when the flowers open from the middle of May until early in June and then pilose on the midrib and veins below and nearly glabrous above, and at maturity thick and firm, pale gray-green and glabrous on the upper surface, more or less villose on the lower surface, 2′—3′ long, and ¾′—1½′ wide, with a broad prominent midrib, and primary veins deeply impressed on the upper surface; turning bright orange or orange and scarlet in the autumn; petioles stout, at first villose or tomentose, becoming pubescent or glabrous, ¼′—½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots usually incisely lobed, and often 3′—4′ long and 1½′—2′ wide. Flowers ½′—¾′ in diameter, on slender villose pedicels, in tomentose or villose many-flowered compact corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, villose or tomentose, the lobes narrow, acute, nearly entire or minutely glandular-serrate, villose on the inner surface; stamens 20; anthers rose color or yellow; styles 5, surrounded at base by conspicuous tufts of white hairs. Fruit ripening and falling in October, on elongated nearly glabrous pedicels, in drooping clusters, short-oblong to subglobose, truncate at the ends dull red or bright yellow (var. aurea Ait.) and usually agreeing with the anthers in color, marked by numerous small white dots, ½′—1′ long; nutlets 5, about ¼′ long.