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than that of most of the thorns. It is red, hairy, and is 

 often eaten, but is too acid to be generally liked. 



In Dutchess County Pringle's thorn is common but north 

 and south of this it is apparently rare in the valley. 



Red-fruited Thorn Crataegus mollis 



This well-known thorn is often called the red haw. It 

 grows from Quebec to Tennessee and westward and is com- 

 mon along the Hudson Valley. It often attains a height of 

 35 feet and forms a broad round-topped tree. 



The broadly oval leaves are sharply and deeply toothed, 

 cut square or heart-shaped at the base and sharp-pointed at 

 the tip. On the upper surface the leaf-blades are finely 

 hairy, and on the lower surface woolly hairy. The curved 

 prickles are not more than 23^ inches long. After the 

 flowers, which form many-blossomed clusters, mature, the 

 fruits ripen. The latter are usually ripe by September, and 

 have a yellow acid flesh. The outside of the fruit is crimson. 

 There are commonly 5 stones imbedded in the flesh but oc- 

 casional fruits are found with only 4 stones. 



Erainerd's Thorn Crataegus Brainerdi 



So far as the Hudson Valley is concerned this is a localized 

 plant. In the region about Dutchess County it is common, 

 but beyond this it is rare. However it grows freely in 

 western New England and is common in Pennsylvania. 

 From all the preceding thorns it may be distinguished by 

 its fruits. Those previously mentioned have the stones of 

 their fruits without pits, but this sort has its fruit-stones 

 pitted. Individual stones may sometimes be found lacking 

 this characteristic but most of them are at least shallowly 

 pitted. 



Long-spined Thorn Crataegus macracantha 



This is a common and widely dispersed plant. It seldom 

 attains a height of more than 25 feet and forms an irregular, 

 broad head. Its long, curved prickles, frequently exceeding 

 4 inches, gives the tree its common and technical names. 



