ROSACES 



The slender, pale red trunk and brown, spreading 

 branches of this symmetrical shrub or small tree, form a 

 conspicuous feature of the thicket borders in the spring, 

 when the pale green leaves, one third grown, are practi- 

 cally eclipsed by the loosely hung white blossoms, with 

 their numerous clustered stamens. Later, in June, when 

 the leaves are the more prominent feature, come the rich, 

 red-purple fruits, that are so much relished by the robins. 



ROSACES ROSE FAMILY 



Cratcegus Crus-Galli, L. 



Flesh-colour Cocks pur Thorn. 



May-June 



Cratoegus: from Greek for strength, because of the hardness 



and roughness of the wood- 

 Crus-Galli: from Latin, meaning the spur of a cock, in 



allusion to the resemblance of the long thorns to a 



cock's spur. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry soil. 



THE SHRUB OR TREE: reaches a height of about twenty-five 

 feet branched, especially above, in the older trees; branches 

 spreading. 



THE LEAVES: alternate; leathery; obovate or oblanceolate; 

 one inch to two inches long; above shining, dull beneath; 

 without hairs on either surface; obtuse or abruptly acu- 

 minate at the apex; decidedly wedge-shaped at the base; 

 sharply and somewhat irregularly saw-toothed. Thorns, 

 numerous, slender, two inches to four inches long. 



THE FLOWERS: fragrant, numerous, in terminal corymbs, 

 on short branches, pedicles without hairs; five petals; calyx 

 lobes linear-lanceolate. 



THE FRUIT: a pome, globose or slightly pear-shaped. 



133 



