Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. XI MAY, 1923 No. 5 
THE HAWTHORN 
THE OFFICIAL STATE FLOWER 
The hawthorn (Crataegus), or red haw as it is sometimes 
ealled, has become of special interest to Missourians since the 
passage of a bill by the Missouri Legislature making it the 
state flower. 
The genus Crataegus, common in this country, is widely 
distributed in the temperate region of the northern hemi- 
sphere. More than eight hundred species have been de- 
scribed for North America, while only about sixty are native 
of the Old World. The considerable range in habit and size 
of the hawthorn, together with its attractive foliage and 
abundance of showy flowers followed by bright-colored fruits, 
makes it unusually valuable for planting in parks and private 
grounds. While the Missouri species have only white flowers, 
other species are pink and crimson, and the fruit, while 
generally red, may also be yellow or orange, and in one species 
blue. The hawthorns are easily transplanted and are bene- 
fited by a liberal pruning at this time. They may likewise be 
propagated by seed. These, however, germinate slowly, re- 
quiring from two to three years before the seedling appears. 
Botanically, the numerous species are difficult to distin- 
guish, their identification depending upon a number of minute 
characters, including the number and color of stamens. In 
order to facilitate their systematic arrangement, they have 
been divided into a number of groups, eleven of which are 
represented in Missouri. Following is a list of the more 
important species of hawthorn to be found within the state, 
the principal member of each group being described at length. 
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