The Hawthorns 



Washington Thorn (C. cordata, Ait.) — Vigorous tree, 

 compact, 25 to 40 feet high. Thorns numerous, slender, i to 2 

 inches long. Leaves triangular, i to 3 inches long, with 3 to 7 

 acute lobes, serrate, cordate at base, thin, shining, vivid red in 

 autumn; petioles slender, long. Flowers, May, many in corymb, 

 \ inch across, styles 5, stamens 20, anthers. Fruits, September, 

 small, flat, scarlet, shining, hanging late into winter. Preferred 

 habitat, moist woods. Distribution, Virginia to Alabama, to 

 Illinois. Uses: A desirable ornamental and hedge thorn. 



This species comes nearer than any of its relatives to the 

 typical heart-shaped leaf, hence its Latin name. As the upper 

 course of the Potomac River is the northernmost limit of its 

 natural range, we may guess that it takes its common name 

 from the capital city. 



Very early, the Virginians sent the seed of this thorn to 

 friends at home, so that it has long adorned European gardens. 

 In the colonies, it was extensively planted for hedges. It proved 

 hardy in all the Middle States, and is now naturalised by escape 

 from old hedges in New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. 

 The compact habit of the tree, and the great multitude of its 

 slender spines make it useful as a hedge plant. Besides, it is 

 thrifty and grows rapidly. The flowers and berries make up in 

 numbers for their small size. When the bright green foliage 

 turns to vivid reds in the fall, the tree has already been conspicuous 

 for some weeks by its coral red berries, which persist often till 

 spring. 



XVI. BrACHY ACANTHI 



Hog's Haw, Pomette Bleue (C. hrachyacantha, Sarg. & 

 Engelm.) — Tree 40 to 50 feet high, trunk 18 to 20 inches in 

 diameter, with handsome, compact head, of stout grey branches. 

 Thorns numerous, short, stout, curved, J to § inch long. Dark 

 dark brown, deeply furrowed, scaly. Leaves lanceolate to rhom- 

 boidal, acute, serrate, sometimes distinctly lobed above middle, 

 dark green, lustrous, firm, i to 2 inches long, on short petioles; 

 stipules triangular, often i inch long. Flowers, May, \ inch across, 

 in compound corymbs; petals orange colour as they fade; stamens 

 15 to 20, Fruits, August, falling soon, flattened globes, J to ^ 

 inch in diameter, bright blue, with pale bloom; flesh thin; nutlets 

 3 to 5, faintly grooved on back. Preferred habitat, rich, moist 



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