136 THE HAWTHORN. 



leaves are glossy in texture, and varv in colour from crimson or 

 yellow to tresh green. Groups ot trom five to seven leaves stud the 

 older twigs ; their stalks radiate troni the point of junction between 

 the twig and a thorn, and one, or more, ot each group is usually 

 much smaller than its companions, even when fully grown. 



In summer the leaves take a darker tinge ot green, and by 

 September have begun to turn crimson. A typical form of leaf is 

 given in the diagram, but they are found in very great variety ; in 

 some cases the indentures of the leaf-blade nearly reach the mid-rib. 

 The primary and secondar\ ribs only are conspicuous, though the 

 leaf is reticulated with a close network of smaller veins. 



THE FLOWER. 



The flower-buds grow at the extremity of the new shoots, and 



are round, small and green. The flower is made up of five white 



j^::^ crinkled petals and five sepals. There is a 



V &>^''%s^^ V^^^^"^^ central pistil, and three stamens are found 



vJjri^ \/ opposite each petal, with a single stamen 



"' '"■"'^"' between the petals. When fully blown the 



petals are often tinged with pink. 



These abundant stamens, with their pink and brown tips, give 

 colour to the blossom, and it shf)uld be noticed that masses of flowers 

 with long and numerous stamens have a blurred and indefinite appearance, 

 even when seen from no great distance, as compared with those possessed 

 of few or short stamens ; in this respect the tiowers of the Hawthorn, 

 Mountain Ash, Guelder Rose, White-beam, &c., should be studied. 



The florets are borne on tertiary stalks from two to four in 

 number, springing from secondary ones, numbering three or four, 

 which arise from a common foot-stalk. 



