APPLE FAMILY 



EVERGREEN THORN. FIRE THORN 



Cotonalster pyracdntha. Pyracdntlia coccinea. 



Cotoneaster , from eotoncum, quince, and aster, similar ; like 

 a quince. Pyracantha, from pyr, fire, and acanthus, thorn ; 

 alluding to the bright red fruit. 



A thorny evergreen shrub, three to eight feet high, native to 

 southern Europe and western Asia, which about Philadelphia 

 and Washington has escaped from cultivation. Young branch- 

 lets and petioles grayish pubescent. 



Leaves. — Evergreen, one to two inches long, oval or oblanceo- 

 late, narrowed at base, crenulate, acute at apex ; when full 

 grown are dark shining green, glabrous or slightly pubescent. 



Flowers. — May. Numerous, small, one-fourth of an inch 

 across, white, borne in terminal compound many - flowered 

 cymes, about an inch and a half across. 



Fruit. — Haw, small, scarlet, depressed globose, bitter, orna- 

 mental. 



A low evergreen shrub, especially handsome when 

 loaded with its bright red haws ; these remain on the 

 branches all winter if not eaten by the birds, who are 

 really fond of them. It is also very pretty in spring 

 with its numerous corymbs of white flowers. Its low 

 habit adapts it for planting on rocky slopes or in 

 sunny rockeries or for borders of shrubberies ; also 

 for low ornamental hedges or for wall-covering, as it 

 bears pruning well and is easily trained into any de- 

 sired shape. The plant thrives in almost any kind of 

 well drained soil, but prefers sunny positions. 



iq8 



