A tree, 20°—30° high, with a trunk occasionally a foot in diameter, stout branches spreading nearly at right angles and forming a round or flat-topped head, or sometimes ascending and forming a narrow open irregular head, and branchlets coated at first with pale deciduous pubescence, becoming light orange-brown or ashy gray, and armed with slender straight light orange-brown or gray spines 2′—3′ long.
Distribution. Common and generally distributed; rich hillsides; valley of the Chateaugay River, Quebec, to the valley of the Detroit River, Ontario, southward through western New England to Delaware, and along the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia, ascending in North Carolina and Tennessee to altitudes of nearly 6000°, and westward through New York, Ohio and Indiana to southern Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, southern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, and in central Iowa. A form (var. canescens Britt.), densely hoary-tomentose on the under surface of the leaves, and on the petioles and corymbs, occurs in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and near Albany, Albany County, New York; and a form (var. microphylla Sarg.) with smaller leaves and compact few-flowered corymbs has been found at Linesville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania.
27. Cratægus pausiaca Ashe.
Leaves oblong-obovate to oval, rounded or acute at apex, gradually narrowed from near the middle to the concave-cuneate entire base, and finely doubly serrate above with straight glandular teeth, more than half grown when the flowers open from the 20th to the end of May and then membranaceous, dark yellow-green, and slightly villose above and along the under side of the midrib and veins, and at maturity glabrous, dark yellow-green above, paler below, 2′—2½′ long, and 1¼′—1½′ wide, with a slender yellow midrib, and 5 or 6 pairs of primary veins extending very obliquely to the end of the leaf; petioles slender, wing-margined above the middle, villose only early in the season, ⅝′—1′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots elliptic to rhombic, long-pointed, slightly or deeply divided into broad lateral lobes, coarsely serrate, often 3½′—4′ long and 2′—2½′ wide. Flowers ½′ in diameter, on long slender hairy pedicels, in broad many-flowered thin-branched villose corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, villose below with closely appressed white hairs, glabrous above, the lobes abruptly narrowed from the base, slender, acuminate, tipped with minute dark glands, entire or occasionally obscurely toothed above the middle, glabrous on the outer surface, villose on the inner surface; stamens 10—15, rarely 20; anthers dark rose color; styles 2 or 3, surrounded at base by a broad ring of pale tomentum. Fruit ripening about the middle of October, on elongated slender slightly hairy pedicels, in drooping many-fruited clusters, short-oblong to obovoid, broad and rounded at the ends, dull brick-red, marked by large pale dots, 5/16′—9/16′ long, and about ⅜′ thick; calyx small, with spreading appressed lobes mostly deciduous from the ripe fruit; flesh thin, hard, slightly juicy, green or greenish yellow; nutlets 3 or 4, thin, acute or obtuse at the ends, ridged on the back with a high broad deeply grooved ridge, about ¼′ long.
A tree, 20°—25° high, with a tall straight trunk often a foot in diameter, covered with dark brown scaly bark, stout wide-spreading branches forming a broad symmetrical round or flat-topped head, slender straight branchlets light orange-green and sparingly villose at first, becoming light orange-brown during their first season, light or dark gray-brown the following year, and armed with numerous stout slender straight orange-brown shining spines 1½′—2′ in length, long persistent on the branches and trunk, finally ashy gray, and becoming sometimes a foot long, with long slender lateral spines.
Distribution. Dry limestone hills and low moist bottom-lands, Bucks, Berks and Delaware counties, eastern Pennsylvania; at Chapin, Ontario County, New York.
28. Cratægus collina Chapm.
Leaves obovate to oval or occasionally to rhombic, acute, gradually narrowed or broadly cuneate at the entire base, and irregularly and often doubly serrate above with glandular incurved or straight teeth, when they unfold bright red and covered with soft pale hairs most abundant on the under side of the midrib and principal veins, less than one third grown when the flowers open at the end of April, and at maturity subcoriaceous, yellow-green on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface, glabrous with the exception of a few hairs on the under side of the stout yellow midrib and 4 or 5 pairs of slender primary veins, 1½′—2′ in length, and 1′—1¼′ wide; petioles slender, villose, soon glabrous, more or less winged toward the apex, ¼′—½′ long; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots frequently divided into short broad acute lateral lobes, more coarsely dentate and often 3′ long and 2½′ wide, with a stout broadly winged petiole generally light red like the lower side of the base of the midrib. Flowers ¾′ in diameter, on long stout pedicels, in broad many-flowered villose corymbs; calyx-tube broadly obconic, villose particularly toward the base, the lobes gradually narrowed from a broad base, acuminate, usually glabrous on the outer surface, villose on the inner surface, finely glandular-serrate with dark glands, bright red toward the apex; stamens usually 20; anthers large, pale yellow; styles 5. Fruit ripening in September, on stout elongated pedicels, in few-fruited erect or drooping puberulous clusters, subglobose but sometimes rather broader than long, dull red, marked by small pale dots, ⅓′—½′ in diameter; calyx enlarged, the lobes closely appressed, glandular-serrate, mostly persistent; flesh yellow; nutlets 5, broad and rounded at the ends, ridged and often grooved on the back, about ¼′ long.
A tree, usually 15°—20° but occasionally 25° high, with a tall straight trunk often buttressed at base, frequently armed with numerous large much-branched spines sometimes 6′—8′ long, stout wide-spreading branches forming a handsome flat-topped symmetrical head, and branchlets tinged with red and villose with long matted silky white hairs when they first appear, soon puberulous, and dull reddish brown, becoming gray in their second year, and furnished with stout lustrous spines 2′—3′ long.
Distribution. Hillsides in rich soil in the foothill region of the southern Appalachian Mountains from southwestern Virginia to central Georgia and westward to northeastern Mississippi and middle Tennessee; in central Alabama; ascending to altitudes of 2500° above the sea.
29. Cratægus amnicola Beadl.
Leaves obovate, oval or ovate, acute or acuminate at apex, gradually narrowed and concave-cuneate at the entire base, coarsely sometimes doubly serrate above with straight or incurved glandular teeth, and incisely lobed above the middle with short acute or acuminate lobes, deeply tinged with red and covered with short pale mostly caducous hairs when they unfold, about half grown and sparingly villose on the midrib and veins when the flowers open late in April or early in May, and at maturity subcoriaceous, bright green, glabrous, 1¼′—1½′ long, and 1′—1¼′ wide; turning in the autumn yellow, orange, red, and brown; petioles slender, sparingly villose early in the season, becoming glabrous, sometimes slightly glandular, ¼′—⅓′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots sometimes 2′ long and 1½′ wide. Flowers about ⅝′ in diameter, on elongated slender slightly villose pedicels, in narrow many-flowered villose corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs at the base, the lobes narrow, acuminate, glandular-serrate, glabrous; stamens 20; anthers nearly white; styles 3—5. Fruit on slender elongated glabrous pedicels, in drooping few-fruited clusters, subglobose, dull red, about ⅓′ in diameter; calyx enlarged, with elongated coarsely serrate reflexed conspicuous lobes; flesh yellow, thin, and firm; nutlets 3—5, rounded or slightly grooved on the back, nearly ¼′ long.
A tree, occasionally 25° high, with a trunk 8′—12′ in diameter, spreading or ascending branches forming a large wide head, and branchlets villose at first with long matted white hairs, soon glabrous, becoming orange-brown and ultimately ashy gray, and unarmed, or armed with stout spines 1¼′—2′ long.
Distribution. Low moist woods and the borders of streams, southeastern Tennessee, northwestern Georgia, and northeastern Alabama; common.
30. Cratægus fastosa Sarg.
Leaves broadly oval to ovate, rounded or acute at apex, concave-cuneate or rounded at the entire base, and coarsely doubly serrate above with straight glandular teeth, when they unfold covered above with long pale hairs and provided below with large tufts of snow-white tomentum in the axils of the primary veins, when the flowers open from the 20th to the 25th of April dark yellow-green and nearly glabrous on the upper surface and still tomentose in the axils of the veins below, and at maturity subcoriaceous, glabrous, yellow-green and lustrous above, pale yellow-green below, 1¾′—2′ long, and 1′—2′ wide, with a prominent light yellow midrib deeply impressed on the upper side, and usually 3—5 pairs of primary veins; petioles slender, at first densely villose, becoming puberulous, ½′—¾′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots occasionally lobed with broad acute lobes. Flowers about ¾′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in compact many-flowered glabrous corymbs, with large conspicuous oblong-obovate and acute to lanceolate coarsely glandular-serrate bracts and bractlets usually persistent until after the petals fall; calyx broadly obconic, the lobes abruptly narrowed at base, slender, acuminate, coarsely glandular-serrate, glabrous on the outer surface, villose on the inner surface; stamens 20; anthers pale yellow; styles 5, surrounded at base by a broad ring of pale tomentum. Fruit ripening from the middle to the end of October, on thin reddish pedicels, in few-fruited drooping clusters, subglobose to short-oblong, dull orange-red, marked by large pale dots, ⅜′ in diameter; calyx enlarged, with spreading serrate lobes villose on the upper side, mostly deciduous from the ripe fruit; flesh thin, yellow-green; nutlets 3—5, thin, narrowed at the ends, obscurely ridged on the back with a broad low often grooved ridge, about 5/16′ long.
A tree, 18°—20° high, with a short trunk 8′—12′ in diameter, covered with dark brown or nearly black scaly bark, small ascending branches forming an irregular open head, and slender nearly straight branchlets, dark orange-green tinged with red when they first appear, becoming before autumn bright reddish brown and very lustrous, and dull reddish brown the following year, and armed with numerous stout nearly straight bright chestnut-brown shining spines 1½′—2′ long.
Distribution. Low woods near Fulton, Hemstead County, Arkansas; not common.
31. Cratægus silvestris Sarg.
Leaves ovate, oval or rarely obovate, acuminate, concave-cuneate or rounded at the entire base, sharply doubly serrate above with straight glandular teeth, and slightly divided above the middle into 3 or 4 pairs of small acuminate lobes, nearly fully grown when the flowers open at the end of May and then roughened above by short white hairs, and villose below on the slender midrib and veins, and at maturity subcoriaceous, dark yellow-green lustrous and scabrate on the upper surface, paler and still villose on the lower surface, 2¼′—2½′ long, and 1¾′—2′ wide; petioles stout, slightly hairy on the upper side, occasionally glandular, and ⅗′—⅘′ in length. Flowers ⅗′ in diameter, on slender villose pedicels, in compact villose usually 6—8-flowered corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, glabrous, the lobes slender, acuminate, coarsely glandular-serrate, slightly villose on the inner surface; stamens 20; anthers pink; styles usually 3. Fruit ripening at the end of September, on slender reddish slightly hairy pedicels, in few-fruited erect or spreading clusters, subglobose to short-oblong, truncate at base, rounded at apex, dull orange-red, about ½′ in diameter; calyx prominent with a broad deep cavity, and spreading coarsely serrate persistent lobes villose on the upper surface; flesh thick, dry and mealy; nutlets 3, gradually narrowed and rounded at the ends, ridged on the back with a high deeply grooved ridge, about ⅓′ long and ⅙′—⅕′ wide.
A tree, 30°—35° high, with a tall trunk often 1° in diameter, large ascending and spreading branches forming an open head, and stout nearly straight glabrous branchlets, light orange-green and marked by small pale lenticels when they first appear, becoming light chestnut-brown and lustrous in their first season, and dull red-brown the following year, and armed with slender straight or slightly curved dark chestnut-brown lustrous spines 1′—1½′ long.
Distribution. Woods in low moist soil, near London, Ontario.
32. Cratægus verruculosa Sarg.
Leaves obovate to rhombic, acute or rarely rounded at apex, cuneate and entire at base, and sharply often doubly serrate above with straight or incurved glandular teeth, when they unfold dark red, covered above by short pale hairs and below by long matted white hairs most abundant on the midrib and veins, about half grown when the flowers open from the 1st to the 10th of May and then thin, dark yellow-green and scabrate on the upper surface, and paler and pubescent on the lower surface, and at maturity subcoriaceous, dark green, lustrous and nearly smooth above, pale and still pubescent below on the stout midrib and conspicuous primary veins extending very obliquely toward the end of the leaf, 1½′—2′ long, and 1′—1¼′ wide; petioles stout, wing-margined at apex, at first villose, becoming pubescent or puberulous, ¼′—½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots often broad-ovate to oval, sharply doubly serrate with straight teeth, sometimes slightly lobed above the middle with short acute lobes, and frequently 3′ long and 2′ wide. Flowers ¾′ in diameter, on long slender villose pedicels, in broad lax compound 6—12 usually 9-flowered villose corymbs; calyx-tube broadly obconic, thickly covered with matted pale hairs, the lobes gradually narrowed from a broad base, slender, acute, tinged with red at apex, sparingly glandular-serrate, pubescent; stamens 20; anthers pale rose color; styles 3—5 surrounded at base by a broad ring of long pale hairs. Fruit ripening about the 1st of October, on stout pubescent pedicels, in drooping few-fruited clusters, subglobose, somewhat flattened and pubescent at the ends, dark red; calyx prominent, with more or less deciduous lobes; nutlets 3—5, narrowed and acute at the ends, rounded and very irregularly ridged and sometimes obscurely grooved on the back, about ¼′ long.
A tree, 20°—25° high, with a tall trunk 10′—12′ in diameter, thick spreading branches forming a broad compact round-topped symmetrical head, and stout nearly straight branchlets thickly covered with matted pale hairs when they first appear, becoming reddish or orange-brown, nearly glabrous and roughened by minute tubercles at the end of their first season, gray-brown the following year, and armed with numerous straight stout or slender dark chestnut-brown very lustrous spines ¾′—1′ long.
Distribution. Springfield, Greene County, Missouri; not rare.
33. Cratægus sordida Sarg.
Leaves rhombic, acute, or occasionally obovate and rarely rounded at apex, cuneate and entire below, serrate above with narrow straight or incurved glandular teeth, and occasionally irregularly divided above the middle into short acute lobes, about half grown when the flowers open the first week of May and then membranaceous, bright green, lustrous and glabrous with the exception of a few short caducous hairs on the upper surface, particularly on the midrib and principal veins, and at maturity subcoriaceous, dark green and lustrous above, paler below, generally about 1½′ long and 1¼′ wide; petioles stout, slightly winged toward the apex, at first villose, soon glabrous, about ½′ long, often bright red in the autumn; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots sometimes oblong or oval, coarsely dentate, usually divided above the middle into short acute lobes, 3′—4′ long, 2′—2½′ wide, and decurrent on the stout glandular petioles. Flowers 1′—1¼′ in diameter, on slender pedicels, in few-flowered compact slightly villose corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, the lobes narrow, acuminate, villose on the inner surface; petals dull white; stamens 20; anthers small, rose color; styles 2 or 3, surrounded at base by a narrow ring of pale hairs. Fruit ripening and falling the middle of September, on short pedicels, in few-fruited drooping clusters, globose, ⅓′—½′ in diameter, dark dull red; calyx prominent, with elongated coarsely serrate appressed or incurved lobes; flesh thin and yellow; nutlets 2 or 3, broad, rounded and ridged on the back with a low rounded ridge, ¼′ long.
A slender tree, 20°—25° high, with a tall trunk 5′—6′ in diameter, often armed with long-branched spines, small ascending branches forming a narrow oval head, and slender nearly straight branchlets, dark orange-green and villose with long scattered pale hairs sometimes persistent until autumn, dull chestnut-brown in their second season, and dark gray-brown the following year, and furnished with numerous thin nearly straight bright chestnut-brown shining spines 1′—2½′ long, or often unarmed.
Distribution. Low woods and the gravelly banks of streams in Shannon, Carter, and Ripley Counties, southern Missouri.
34. Cratægus brazoria Sarg.
Leaves oval to obovate, acute or acuminate at apex, gradually narrowed, cuneate and entire at base, and coarsely and irregularly glandular-serrate above with straight spreading teeth, coated with hoary tomentum and often bright red when they unfold, nearly fully grown and covered with short soft pale hairs most abundant on the under side of the thin midrib and 3 or 4 pairs of primary veins when the flowers open from the middle to the end of March, and at maturity thin and firm in texture, glabrous, dark green and lustrous above, paler below, 2′—2½′ long, and 1¼′—1½′ wide; petioles slender, early in the season tomentose, becoming glabrous or puberulous, ½′—¾′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots broad-ovate or oblong, rounded or broad-cuneate at base, coarsely dentate, 5′ long, and 2½′ wide. Flowers ¾′ in diameter, on long slender pedicels, in broad slightly villose 7 or 8-flowered corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, coated with long matted pale hairs, the lobes narrow, acuminate, obscurely glandular-serrate or nearly entire, villose on both surfaces; stamens 20; anthers small, dark red; styles 5, surrounded at base by a thin ring of hoary tomentum. Fruit ripening after the 1st of October, in spreading or drooping few-fruited clusters, subglobose and often rather longer than broad, bright canary-yellow, marked by occasional dark dots, ⅓′—½′ long; calyx prominent, the lobes usually deciduous before the fruit ripens; flesh thin, light yellow, rather dry but sweet and edible; nutlets 5, rounded and grooved on the back, ¼′ long.
A tree, 20°—25° high, with a tall straight trunk 8′—10′ in diameter, numerous ascending branches forming a handsome symmetrical round-topped head, and branchlets covered when they first appear with matted pale hairs, dull reddish brown and often puberulous in their second season, and reddish brown the following year, and unarmed or occasionally armed with long thin gray spines.
Distribution. Low rich woods near the banks of the Brazos River, Columbia and Brazoria, Brazoria County, Texas.
35. Cratægus dallasiana Sarg.
Leaves oblong, acute, acuminate or rounded at apex, gradually narrowed to the concave-cuneate entire base, coarsely doubly serrate above with straight glandular teeth, and usually slightly lobed above the middle, coated below with thick hoary tomentum and villose above as they unfold, nearly fully grown and villose or tomentose below when the flowers open early in April, and at maturity thin, dark yellow-green, glabrous and lustrous on the upper surface, pale and pubescent on the lower surface on the slender midrib and 3 or 4 pairs of thin arching veins, 1¾′—2½′ long, and 1¼′—1½′ wide; petioles slender, wing-margined toward the apex, hoary-tomentose early in the season, becoming glabrous, about ½′ in length. Flowers about ⅝′ in diameter, on long slender hairy pedicels, in many-flowered densely villose corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, densely coated with long matted pale hairs, the lobes slender, acuminate, tipped with a minute red gland, sparingly and irregularly glandular-serrate, villose; stamens 20; anthers light rose color; styles 5. Fruit ripening at midsummer, on stout erect slightly hairy pedicels, in few-fruited clusters, subglobose, dull dark red, ⅜′—½′ in diameter; calyx prominent, with spreading lobes bright red on the upper side at the base; nutlets 5, acute at the narrow ends, thin, rounded and grooved with a broad shallow groove or irregularly ridged on the back, ¼′—5/16′ long.
A tree, 20°—25° high, with a tall trunk 4′—6′ in diameter, covered with pale bark, small erect branches forming an open irregular head, and slender somewhat zigzag branchlets thickly coated at first with hoary tomentum, reddish brown and lustrous before autumn, ultimately ashy gray, and armed with straight slender gray-spines 1¼′—1½′ long.
Distribution. Forest-covered bottom-lands of the small tributaries of the Trinity River, Dallas County, Texas; not common.
36. Cratægus Lettermanii Sarg.
Leaves obovate, acute or acuminate or rounded and short-pointed at apex, gradually narrowed from near the middle and cuneate at the mostly entire base, coarsely often doubly serrate above with straight or incurved glandular teeth, and frequently slightly and irregularly divided above the middle into 3 or 4 pairs of short acute lobes, strongly plicate when they unfold and covered with a thick coat of pale tomentum, nearly half grown, roughened above by short pale hairs and pubescent below when the flowers open early in May, and at maturity thick, bright yellow-green and scabrate above, pale and pubescent below on the stout midrib and 4 or 5 pairs of primary veins, about 2′ long and 1½′ wide; petioles stout, more or less winged above the middle, at first tomentose, becoming pubescent or nearly glabrous, usually about ¾′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots broad-oval, acute or acuminate, more coarsely serrate, 2½′—3′ long, and 2′—2½′ wide. Flowers about ¾′ in diameter, on short villose pedicels in compact, many-flowered thick-branched densely villose corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, tomentose, the lobes narrow, acuminate, finely glandular-serrate, villose; stamens 10; anthers small, pale yellow; styles 5, surrounded at base by a broad ring of hoary tomentum. Fruit ripening early in October, on stout pubescent pedicels, in few-fruited spreading or drooping clusters, subglobose or occasionally slightly obovoid, rounded and puberulous at the ends, dull orange-red, marked by large pale dots, about ½′ in diameter; calyx broad, the lobes enlarged, coarsely glandular-serrate, reflexed, often deciduous before the fruit ripens; flesh thin; nutlets 5, prominently ridged on the back with a high rounded ridge, ¼′ long.
A tree, 18°—20° high, with a trunk 6′—8′ in diameter, with thin dark brown or nearly black bark separating freely into small plate-like scales, and often armed with thin much-branched spines frequently 7′—8′ long, small erect branches forming a wide open head, and branchlets coated when they first appear with hoary tomentum, dull red-brown, villose or pubescent during their first season, and furnished with stout straight bright red-brown shining spines 1½′—2′ long.
Distribution. Low rich soil inundated during several weeks in winter, among Oaks and Hickories; near Allenton, St. Louis County, Missouri.
37. Cratægus pratensis Sarg.
Leaves oblong-obovate, acute or rounded at apex, gradually narrowed below from near the middle to the cuneate entire base, sharply and often doubly serrate usually only above the middle with straight or incurved teeth tipped early in the season with a minute dark red caducous gland, and often more or less deeply divided toward the apex into short broad acute lobes, when they unfold bright bronze-yellow or dark red, and covered with short pale hairs, almost smooth and nearly fully grown when the flowers open at the end of May, and at maturity glabrous, thick, dark green and lustrous above, pale below, 1½′—2′ long, and 1′—1½′ wide, with a thin midrib, and 4 or 5 pairs of primary veins extending obliquely toward the end of the leaf, and raised and prominent below; petioles slender, glabrous, usually about ½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots often oval or broad-ovate, frequently 3′ long and 2½′ wide. Flowers ⅓′ in diameter, on long slender pedicels, in broad loose many-flowered corymbs pubescent or puberulous at first but soon glabrous; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, coated toward the base with long matted pale hairs, the lobes narrow, acuminate, coarsely glandular-serrate, glabrous on the outer surface, villose 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 and remaining on the branches until November, on elongated pedicels, in loose drooping many-fruited clusters, globose, bright scarlet, slightly pruinose, marked by occasional large pale dots, about ⅓′ in diameter; calyx prominent, with much enlarged coarsely glandular-serrate lobes often deciduous before the fruit becomes entirely ripe; flesh thin and yellow; nutlets 2 or 3, thick and broad, about ¼′ long.
A tree, occasionally 20° high, with a tall trunk 3′—7′ in diameter, often armed with long slender much-branched ashy gray spines, spreading branches forming a round-topped symmetrical head, and branchlets occasionally slightly villose when they first appear, soon glabrous, light orange-brown in their first season, and reddish or grayish brown the following year, and furnished with numerous thin straight or slightly curved shining chestnut-brown spines 2′—3′ long.
Distribution. Open woods near the banks of small streams in the prairie region of Stark and Peoria Counties, Illinois.
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.
39. Cratægus rufula Sarg.
Cratægus æstivalis Torr. & Gray in part, not Mespilus æstivalis Walt.
Leaves oblong-obovate, acute or rounded at apex, gradually narrowed, cuneate and entire at base, finely crenately glandular-serrate, and often slightly lobed above the middle; with short rounded lobes, covered above with soft pale hairs and whitish tomentose below when they unfold, and at maturity thick, dark green, lustrous and glabrous or slightly pubescent along the midrib on the upper surface, rufous-pubescent especially on the midrib and veins on the lower surface, 1½′—2′ long, and ¾′—1¼′ wide, rarely not more than 1′ long and ½′ wide; petioles slender, villose-pubescent with rufous hairs, occasionally glandular, ¼′—⅓′ in length; leaves at the ends of vigorous shoots oblong-obovate, rounded and short-pointed to elliptic and acuminate, laterally lobed, or deeply 3-lobed at apex, often 2½′ long and 1½′ wide. Flowers appearing from the 10th to the end of March, ¾′—1′ in diameter, in mostly 3—5-flowered clusters, on villose-pubescent pedicels about ⅓′ in length; calyx-tube broadly obconic, glabrous or villose-pubescent sometimes in the same cluster, the lobes gradually narrowed from a broad base, acuminate, entire or slightly glandular-serrate nearly to apex, glabrous or slightly pubescent on the outer surface; stamens 20; anthers dark rose color; styles 3—5, surrounded at base by a ring of white tomentum. Fruit ripening at the end of May, often solitary on glabrous erect pedicels ¼′—½′ long, subglobose, scarlet, lustrous, about ½′ in diameter, the calyx persistent with erect lobes; nutlets only slightly grooved on the back, about ¼′ long.
A tree, sometimes 30° high, with a tall trunk 8′—10′ in diameter, covered with rough deeply furrowed dark bark, paler and less deeply furrowed on smaller and younger stems, stout ascending and spreading branches forming a broad round-topped head, and slender slightly zigzag branchlets covered when they first appear with pale tomentum, glabrous or rusty tomentose until the early summer, becoming chestnut-brown, lustrous and glabrous before autumn and dull gray in their second year, and unarmed or armed with slender or stout straight spines ½′—1½′ in length.
Distribution. Depressions filled with water except at midsummer, sandy borders of ponds and streams and low wet prairies, Cottondale and Round Lake, Jackson County, and Quincy, Gadsden County, Florida; near Bainbridge, Decatur County, and Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia; near Dothan, Houston County, Alabama; pond holes along the Neuse River near Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina.
40. Cratægus opaca Hook.
Cratægus æstivalis Torr. & Gray in part, not Mespilus æstivalis Walt.
Leaves elliptic to oblong-cuneiform, gradually narrowed and acute or bluntly pointed at apex, cuneate at the often glandular base, finely crenately serrate above the middle with minute glandular teeth, pilose above and hoary-tomentose below when they unfold, and at maturity dull dark green and glabrous or slightly hairy on the midrib on the upper surface, pubescent on the lower surface with rusty brown hairs most abundant on the midrib and veins, 2′—2½′ long, and ½′—1′ wide; petioles slender, villose-pubescent, about ¼′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots elliptic to oblong-ovate, often irregularly laterally lobed, and 2½′—3′ long and wide. Flowers appearing in February and March before or with the unfolding of the leaves, 1′ in diameter, on glabrous pedicels ½′ long, in 3—5-flowered corymbs; calyx-tube broadly obconic, glabrous, the lobes narrowed from a wide base, short, nearly triangular, acute and tipped at apex with a conspicuous gland, entire or minutely serrate, glabrous, often deeply tinged with red; stamens 20; anthers large, deep rose color; styles 3—5, surrounded at base by a broad ring of pale tomentum. Fruit ripening early in May, in usually 2—3-fruited clusters, depressed-globose, scarlet, lustrous, dotted with pale spots, ½′—⅔′ in diameter, with a small narrow cavity surrounded by the erect calyx-lobes; nutlets 3—5, rounded at the ends, rounded and slightly grooved on the back, ¼′ long.
A tree, 20°—30° high, with a tall stem occasionally 1° in diameter, covered with deeply fissured bark, divided into dark red-brown persistent scales, slender mostly erect branches forming a narrow round-topped head, and slender branchlets villose-pubescent when they first appear, soon glabrous, lustrous and bright chestnut-brown during their first season, becoming dull gray in their second year, and armed with stout straight chestnut-brown spines ½′—1′ in length, or more often unarmed; occasionally with several stems forming a large shrub.
Distribution. In deep depressions filled with water for most of the year, low river banks and borders of swamps; near Mt. Vernon, Mobile County, and near Selma, Dallas County, Alabama; southern Mississippi (Meridian, Lauderdale County, and Hattiesburg, Forest County); eastern Louisiana; sometimes in St. Tammany Parish covering large tracts almost to the exclusion of other plants; western Louisiana from the coast to nearly the northern border of the state, and eastern Texas to the valley of the Trinity River; rare and local east of the Mississippi River; common westward. The fruit is largely used in making preserves and jellies.
IV. VIRIDES.
CONSPECTUS OF THE ARBORESCENT SPECIES.
- Stamens 20.
- Fruit not exceeding ⅓′ in diameter.
- Anthers pale yellow.
- Corymbs, branchlets and leaves glabrous.
- Bark of the trunk pale gray, close and smooth.
- Leaves ovate to oblong-obovate, acute or acuminate, rarely rounded at apex; fruit depressed-globose, bright scarlet or orange.
- 41. C. viridis (A, C).
- Leaves ovate, acute, often broadly cuneate at base; fruit subglobose, orange-red.
- 42. C. ovata (A).
- Leaves oval or ovate, acute, rounded or broadly cuneate at base; fruit globose, yellow-green flushed with red.
- 43. C. vulsa (C).
- Bark of the trunk dark brown or nearly black; leaves subcoriaceous.
- Leaves oblong-ovate to semiorbicular, acute, often short-pointed or rarely rounded at apex; fruit short-oblong to obovoid or globose, dull orange color.
- 44. C. glabriuscula.
- Leaves oval to rhombic, acute or acuminate; fruit subglobose to short-oblong, bright orange-red.
- 45. C. blanda (C).
- Corymbs and branchlets villose-pubescent; leaves ovate or obovate, acute or rounded at apex; fruit subglobose, orange-red.
- 46. C. velutina (C).
- Anthers deep rose color; leaves elliptic to oblong-ovate, acute, acuminate or rarely rounded at apex; fruit globose or subglobose, orange-red.
- 47. C. arborescens (C).
- Fruit ½′—¾′ in diameter.
- Anthers yellow.
- Leaves cuneate at base; calyx-tube glabrous.
- Leaves lanceolate to oblong-obovate, acuminate; fruit short-oblong, dull brick red covered with a glaucous bloom.
- 48. C. nitida (A).
- Leaves obovate to oval or rhombic, acute or rarely rounded at apex; fruit subglobose to short-oblong, dark crimson.
- 49. C. mitis (A).
- Leaves, broad and rounded at base, ovate, acute; calyx-tube villose; fruit subglobose to short-oblong, dark red.
- 50. C. atrorubens (A).
- Anthers rose color; corymbs villose; fruit red.
- Leaves obovate, oval or ovate, acute, scabrate above; fruit globose to subglobose, anthers deep rose color.
- 51. C. ingens (C).
- Leaves broadly obovate, oval or ovate, acute or acuminate, smooth above; fruit globose or depressed-globose; anthers pale rose color.
- 52. C. penita (C).
- Stamens usually 10; occasionally 12—20; anthers bright red; leaves oblong-obovate to oval, usually acute or acuminate; fruit subglobose to short-oblong, bright orange-red.
- 53. C. micracantha (C).
41. Cratægus viridis L.
Cratægus Davisii Sarg.
Leaves ovate to oblong-obovate or oval, acute or acuminate or rarely rounded at apex, gradually narrowed to the cuneate base, finely serrate above with incurved glandular teeth, and sometimes slightly 3-lobed toward the apex, tinged with red and slightly hairy above when they unfold, nearly fully grown when the flowers open in April and May, and at maturity membranaceous to subcoriaceous, dark green and lustrous on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface, with large axillary tufts of pale hairs, 1′—2′ long, and ½′—1′ wide, with a thick midrib and conspicuous primary veins; often turning brilliant scarlet late in the autumn before falling; petioles slender, 1′—1½′ in length; leaves at the end of vigorous shoots often deeply laterally lobed with narrow acuminate lobes, and 2½′—4′ long, and 1½′—2′ wide. Flowers ¾′ in diameter, on long slender pedicels, in many-flowered corymbs; calyx-tube narrowly obconic, glabrous, the lobes lanceolate, entire; stamens 20; anthers pale yellow; styles 2—5, usually 5, surrounded at base by conspicuous tufts of pale hairs. Fruit ripening in the autumn and mostly persistent on the branches through the winter, on long slender pedicels, in drooping many-fruited clusters, depressed-globose, bright scarlet or orange, ⅛′—¼′ in diameter; calyx little enlarged, the lobes often deciduous from the ripe fruit; nutlets usually 5, narrowed and rounded at the ends, rounded and slightly grooved or ridged on the back, 1/16′—⅛′ long.
A tree, 20°—35° high, with a straight often fluted trunk 8°—12° tall, and 18′—20′ in diameter, covered with close gray or pale orange-colored bark, small branches forming a round rather compact head, and slender glabrous branchlets ashy gray to light red-brown in their first winter, and unarmed or occasionally armed with slender sharp pale spines ¾′—1′ long.
Distribution. On the often inundated borders of streams and swamps, rarely in drier ground on low slopes; southeastern Virginia (banks of the Blackwater River near Zuni, Isle of Wight County), North Carolina (Salisbury, Rowan County), South Carolina (near Aiken, Aiken County), eastern Georgia (near Augusta, Richmond County, and Macon, Bibb County), western Florida (River Junction, Gadsden County, and Tallahassee, Leon County to the swamps of the lower Apalachicola River), and westward through central and southern Alabama, southern Mississippi, and Louisiana to the valley of the San Antonio River (Sutherland Springs, Wilson County), Texas, and to central and western Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma and southeastern Missouri (Butler County), and northward in the region adjacent to the Mississippi River from Louisiana to northeastern Missouri, and to Pike County, Illinois, ranging eastward in Mississippi to Tishomingo County in the northeastern corner of the state, to northwestern Georgia, southeastern Tennessee, and to Richland County, Illinois; rare and local in the Atlantic and east Gulf states; common and often forming great thickets in western Louisiana, the coast region of eastern Texas, southern Arkansas, and in the region adjacent to the Mississippi River.