Handbook of Trees of tub Northern States and Canada. 



253 



The Holmes Thorn is a beautiful large Thorn 

 Bometimes 25 or 30 ft. in height with full 

 rouiKi-spruadiny tup and a clear trunk 12-18 

 in. in dianiotcr and sometimes 5-7 ft. to the 

 branches. This is usually ridged and lluted 

 and is covered with a gray or light brown bark 

 which exfoliates in thin closely appressed 

 scales. Before the recent study and revision 

 of the Crataegus this tree was called the Scarlet 

 Thorn and considered to be one of the many 

 and various forms comprehended in the species 

 C. coccinea L. In the revision this form has 

 been given specific rank and named after 

 Prof. J. A. Holmes, State Geologist of North 

 Carolina. It is quite an abundant tree, occu- 

 pying well-drained slopes and uplands, the bor- 

 ders of swamps, etc., and is a tree of highly 

 ornamental value. 



The wood is heavy, hard, very close-grained 



and suitable for use in turnery. i 



Leaves oval to ovate, 2-4 in. long, rounded or 

 broadly cuneate at base (subcordate on vigorous 

 shoots), acute or acuminate, irregular! .v double 

 serrate or with short lobes, thick and Arm at 

 maturit.y. smooth j'ellow-green above, L'-.'t in. loni; ; 

 petioles slender, I-IV2 in- long. Floicers !/■!-% in 

 broad, ciip-sbaped, in many-flowered mostly glab- 

 rous compound coi-ymlis with slcndiT piMlicds : 

 calyx narrow obcouic with aciiininatc glandular- 

 serrate or entire lohrs : stamoiis usually •") (or CS) 

 with large dark reddish anthers ; styh's .'1. J'niit 

 ripening and falling in September, mostly short 

 oblong or somewhat pear-shaped in drooping 

 clusters with long slender stems, lustrous crimson 

 1/4-% in. long with i)rominrnt en^ct or incurved 

 glandular serrate lobes; nutlets .■'., prominentiv 

 ridged on the back. 



1. .V. \V., IV, 



I as 



