CHAPTER XXXVIII: THE HAWTHORNS 



Family RosACEyC 



Genus CRATiEGUS, Linn. 



Small trees or shrubs, with rigid, thorny branches. Leaves 

 simple, alternate, deciduous, stipulate, serrate, often lobed. 

 Flowers perfect, usually white, in corymbs on short side twigs. 

 Fruits drupe-like pomes, with hard nutlets containing the seeds. 

 IVood hard, tough, reddish, close grained. Uses: Ornamental 

 trees and hedge plants; wood used for tool handles and mallets. 



KEY TO GROUPS AND TO SPECIES 



A. Nutlets not grooved in front. 



B. Leaf veins extending to points of lobes; not to sinuses. 

 C. Petioles short ; leaves obovate, wedge shaped at base. 

 D. Corymbs many-flowered. 



E. Leaves leathery, dark green, shining above; 

 fruit almost globular, nutlets i to 3, 

 ridged on back. 



I. Group CRUS-GALLI 



F. Stamens 10, anthers rose colour; leaves 

 thick, fruit dull red; spines stout, 4 to 

 6 inches long. 



(C. Crus-galli) cockspur thorn 

 FF. Stamens 20, anthers yellow; leaves thin; 

 fruit orange red; spines slender, i to 

 \h inches long. (C. Mohri) haw 



EE. Leaves membranaceous or firm; veins strong; 

 fruit usually dotted; nutlets 2 to 5, 

 strongly ridged on back. 



II. Group PUNCTAT/E 



F. Fruit oblong, yellow or red, ^ to i inch 

 long, with large, pale dots; stamens 20. 

 (C. punctata) dotted haw 



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