The Trees of Vermont 



()9 



Several species of haw occur in this state. They are extremely variable 

 and, indeed, are not at present fully understood by botanists. For this rea- 

 son only the three most common and well marked species are included in 

 the following key and descriptions.' 



Branches horizontal, gray, leaves wedge-shape at base, fruit yellow or red . . . .Dotted Haw 

 Branches not horizontal (irregularly ascending), reddish. 



Leaves thin, usually rounded or heart-shape at base, leaf-stalk slender, fruit 



coral-red Scarlet Haw 



Leaves thicker, shining, wedge-shape at base with leaf-tissue often extending 

 down the short, stoutleafstalk, fruitbright, dark red Longspine Haw 



Introduced species. — In addition to these three species and the other 

 native ones mentioned in the foot note, the English hawthorn {Crataegus 

 Oxycantha) is often met. This has been planted as an ornamental tree and 

 is sometimes found as an escape in woods or by roadsides. It is to be dis- 

 tinguished by its smaller fruit (one-fourth to one-third inch long) and dis- 

 tinctly cut-lobed leaves, wedge-form at the base. The flowers are large and 

 showy. 



SCARLET HAW ( SCARLET- FRUITED THORN, WHITE THORN ). 



.Linn. 



Crataegus coccinea 



The scarlet haws (including the various forms, see foot-note) are the 

 commonest of our hawthorns and are certainly well known to the children 



of Vermont, for who has not at sometime or other 

 -J..-, eaten thorn apples or woven caps with the sharp 

 '^^ slender thorns ? The white or pinkish flowers 

 open in early June and are among the most beau- 

 tiful found upon any tree. The scarlet apples are 

 oblong and about half an inch in diameter. They 

 ripen in September or October and often hang upon 

 the trees until late fall. The scarlet haws are gen- 

 erally distributed through the lower altitudes in 

 Vermont. 



SCARLET HAW 

 Leaf and fruit, X ] 



I Professor Sargent has recently made a critical examination of specimens of \'ermont 

 hawthorns sent him from various localities. Reports on these just as this is going to press 

 indicate that a considerable revision of the botanical conception of some of the species is 

 necessary. He distinguishes ten species among those submitted to him, as follows : 

 C. coccinea, C. macracantha, C. flabellata, C. intermedia, C. rotundifolia, C. populifolia, 

 C. mollis, C.glandulosa, C. punctata, C. Crus-galli. All of these except the last two are 

 forms of what is included in Gray's Manual under C. coccinea and its varieties. 



It is evident, therefore, that the hawthorns will present some interesting and perhaps 

 rather puzzling questions to any one who undertakes careful observations upon them. 



