RED HAW 



(Crakegus Coccinea) 



THIS tree belongs to the rose family, and the genus Crategus consists 

 of a large group of small, thorny trees, scattered through many 

 parts of the world. They are known by then- thorns, but comparatively 

 few of them are known by name to the ordinary observer, and they 

 afford a perpetual source of study, victory, and bewilderment to the 

 trained botanist. "No other group of American trees," says Sudworth, 

 "presents such almost insurmountable difficulties in point of distinctive 

 characters. It is impossible, and fortunately unnecessary, for the 

 practical forester to know them all, and exceedingly difficult even for 

 the specialist." More than one hundred species of these thorn trees 

 occur in the United States, exclusive of shrubs. Their bloom resembles 

 that of apple and pear trees. Bees and insects swarm round the 

 flowering trees, assisting in cross fertilization. The various species are 

 aggressive. They force then: way into vacant spaces, and then- thorns 

 protect them against browsing animals. The wood is sappy and heavy, 

 and for most of the species it is valueless. The growing brambles, 

 however, perform an important service in forest economy. Seeds of 

 various valuable trees are blown by wind or carried by birds and mam- 

 mals into the thickets where they germinate and get a start under the 

 protecting shelter of the thorns. Finally the seedlings overtop the 

 brambles, gain the mastery, shade the thorns to death, and develop 

 valuable forests. The thorn trees shed then* leaves annually. Then- 

 seeds are slow to germinate, some not sprouting until the second year. 

 The fruit is worthless for human consumption, but some of it has a tart 

 and not unpleasant taste. It is of many colors and sizes, depending 

 on species. 



No attempt is here made to name or to list the species. Such a 

 list would, for most people, be a dull catalogue of names, and many of 

 them in Latin because there are no English equivalents. A few repre- 

 sentative species are given. The red haw, though not the most abun- 

 dant, is widely distributed, and is probably as well known as any. Its 

 range extends from Newfoundland westward through southern 

 Canada to the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, thence south to 

 Texas and Florida. It covers one-half of the United States. In the 

 northern part of its range the red haw is confined to the slopes of low 

 hills and along water courses, but south in the Appalachian mountains 

 it grows at an elevation of several thousand feet. 



It has various names in different regions. It is called scarlet haw, 



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