74 



CRATAEGUS. 



comes into leaf and flowers about Christmas, is one of 

 the most interesting. The other varieties are grown more 

 on account of their departure from the type or species, 

 than for any peculiar beauty they possess. 



The Hawthorn is indigenous throughout Britain, and 

 according to H. 0. Watson, extends to a height a little 

 above that attained by the common whin, Ulex Europceus ; 

 it is also a native of the greater part of Continental Europe, 

 and is found in North Africa and the western parts of Asia. 



In England the Hawthorn is very generally known by 

 the name of May or Maybush, from its connexion with 

 the floral games, the recognition of which, from the times 

 of the Greeks and Romans, has come down to us in the 

 celebration of May-day, and the erection of the May-pole, 

 which, in the south of England, is always surmounted 

 with a wreath or ornament of Hawthorn flowers. 





The foliage affords food to many insects, several of these 

 being the larvae of lepidoptera : among these may be par- 



