2. Pynis L. . Pear 



About 50 species mainly in the North Temperate Zone. 

 1. Pynis arbutifolia (L.) L.f. Red chokeberry. Fig. 492. 



Colonial shrub or small slender tree (spreading by subterranean oflfsets) to 7 m. 

 high, usually much smaller; branches slender, loosely ascending, the new branchlets 

 gray- or white-tomentose; leaves alternate, broadly oblanceolate to narrowly obo- 

 vate or elliptic, tapering to the base, acute to short-acuminate or apiculate, dark- 

 green and glabrous (except for glandular midrib) above, densely pannose- 

 tomentose and pale beneath to rarely glabrous, crenate-serrate, in maturity to 9 

 cm. long and 4 cm. wide; flower clusters terminal on the stem and short axillary 

 branches, 1.5-6 cm. broad, as many as 25-flowered, the rachis and pedicels 

 tomentulose; flowers about 1 cm. broad; hypanthium tomentose; sepals bearing 

 stipitate glands; petals white or pink-tinged; fruit obovoid to subglobose, bright- or 

 dull-red, 5-7 mm. in diameter. Aronia arbutifolia (L.) Ell. and f. macrophylla 

 (Hook.) Rehd. 



Low woods, thickets, swamps, wet pine barrens and bogs in e. Tex., Mar.-May; 

 from Fla. to Tex., n. to. N. S., N. Y., Ont., Mich, and Mo. 



3. Crataegus L. Hawthorn. Red Haw. Thorn 



Small trees or shrubs with usually crooked thorny branches and simple serrate 

 or variously lobed deciduous leaves; leaves at the ends of vegetative shoots diff'er- 

 ently shaped, large and usually more deeply cut than those on the flowering 

 branchlets; flowers solitary or commonly in corymbs; calyx tube campanulate or 

 obconic, its limb 5-parted; petals normally 5, deciduous; stamens usually 5 to 20, 

 in 1 to 3 series; filaments filiform; anthers oblong, white, yellow or some shade of 

 red; styles 1 to 5, distinct; fruit a pome with 1 to 5 bony usually 1 -seeded nutlets. 



There are close to 1 ,000 specific proposals that have been made in this primarily 

 North American genus. There is no way to estimate the number of valid species 

 that might occur. Species comprising some Series, such as Molles and Virides, 

 seem to intergrade imperceptibly into each other. Although we are inclined to 

 combine even more of these than have been combined thus far, the conclusions of 

 E. J. Palmer have been followed as closely as possible since our treatment is derived 

 and adapted from his various published contributions regarding this genus. Palmer 

 considered the primary taxonomic characters, in descending order of importance, 

 to be color of anthers, number of stamens, the pubescent or non-pubescent condi- 

 tion of the corymb at time of flowering, and, lastly, general shape of the leaves. 

 He was of the opinion that if these characteristics were used in combination species 

 determinations could be made. 



One of the characteristic habitats of many species of hawthorns is open, 

 poorly drained flatwoods that become momentarily flooded after heavy rains. An 

 attempt was made to discriminate between such habitats and those that are some- 

 what similar in appearance but which fit more nearly into our wet land habitat 

 concept. If, perchance, a specimen is collected in these temporarily wet habitats 

 and is not to be found in our work its identity should be sought in a local or 

 regional Flora. 



The fruit of many species are edible and make fine jellies and preserves, and 

 most have ornamental qualities. The usually dense, thorny growth of most species 

 provide favorite nesting sites for many birds. Their fruits are eaten to some 

 extent by most birdlife and various small animals, and deer browse on the foliage 

 and twigs. 



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