Crataegus crus-galli, 
THE COCK-SPUR THORN. 
Synonymes. 
Cratcegus crus-galli, 
Neflier pied de coc, 
Glanzende Mispel, 
Lazzeruolo rosso, Lazzeruolo spinoso, 
Cock-spur Thorn, 
Linnjeus, Species Plantarum. 
1 Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum. 
Torkey and Gray, Flora of North America. 
France. 
Germany. 
Italy. 
Britain and Anglo-America. 
Engravings. Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, ii., fig. 574 in p. 856, and vi. pi. 126 et 127; and the figures below. 
Specific Characters. Spines long. Leaves obovate-wedge-shaped, nearly sessile, glossy, glabrous, falling 
off late. Stipules linear. Lobes of the calyx lanceolate, and somewhat serrated. Styles 2. Fruit 
scarlet. De Candolle, Prodromus. 
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Description. 
jr ^'^Nv Vv 
S2^|HE Crataegus crus- 
galli is a beautiful 
low tree, often grow- 
i ing to a height of 
fifteen or twenty feet, found in woods and hedges, 
from Florida to Canada, and as far west as Mis- 
souri. It was introduced into Britain in 1691, 
and has been more generally cultivated in that 
country than any other American species. In 
warm, sheltered situations, it is sometimes sub- 
evergreen, retaining its leaves and fruit through- 
out the winter. Its branches are armed with 
sharp, slender spines, two or three inches long. 
The leaves are usually obtuse, of a shining, 
deep-green above, and paler and dull beneath. 
The flowers appear in April and May, and are 
succeeded by small, somewhat pyriform, scarlet 
fruit, which ripens in September and October. 
Varieties. De Candolle and Loudon describe, under this species, the five fol- 
lowing varieties : 
1. C. c. splendens. Shining -leaved Cock-spur Thorn, the leaves of which are 
ovate-wedged-shaped, and shining. 
2. C. c. pyracanthifolia. Yellotv-spined-leaved Cock-spur Thorn. The leaves 
of this variety are oblong, with the upper part lanceolate, and the lower part 
tending to wedge-shaped. 
3. C. c. salicifolia. W illow -leaved Cock-spur Thorn, with leaves resembling 
in shape, those of the preceding variety, and like it, forms a beautiful low, flat- 
headed tree. 
4. C. c. linearis. Parallel-sided-leaved Cock-spur Thorn. This variety may 
be known by its linear-lanceolate leaves, shortish spines, and yellowish-red 
fruit. 
