Handbook of Teees of the Koetiikrn Statks axd Canada. 245 



The Cock-spur Thorn is a low wide-spread- 

 ing tree with long tortuous horizontal or 

 drooping and very thorny branches, forming a 

 low broad top, seldom more than 20 or 25 ft. 

 in height. The short trunk rarely exceeds 10 

 or 12 in. in diameter and is rough with scaly 

 gray-brown hark. It is one of the most strik- 

 ing and ornamental representatives of its genuR 

 (jn account of its thick shining dark-green 

 leaves. The luster of tlicse is seldom tarnishcil 

 by insect or blight, and they preserve a fresh- 

 ness throughout the season which is unsur- 

 passed l;y the leaves of anj' other tree. The 

 ample bunches of handsome flowers appear 

 after the leaves are fully grown, and then tlic 

 tree is an object of rare beauty. It is perhaps 

 more extensively planted both in this country 

 and in Europe for ornamental purposes than 

 any other American species, excepting perhaps 

 the Washington Haw, and it is also valucil 

 for hedges. The name Xewcastle Thorn has 

 been given to it on account of its alnmdant 

 use in hedges about Newcastle, Del. 



Its wood is heavy, hard, very fine-grained 

 nnrl suitable for tool ]iandles."i 



LrnrcR mostly obovate, 1-4 in. long, cuneate and 

 entire at base, "acute or rounded at apex, sharply 

 sprrafe-dentate, thick, coriaceous, lustrous dark 

 irrccn above, paler and prominently reticnlate- 

 veincf] beneath, turning to orange and scarlet in 

 autumn : petioles stout. Floircr^ opening in .Tune 

 -,■■ In. in diameter in many-flowered glabrous 

 cnrymhs ; calyx with narrow obconic tube and 

 linear-lanceolate entire or glandular-serrate lobes ; 

 stamens 10. anthers rose-colored : styles usually 

 -. hairy at base. Fruit maturing in October and 

 often remaining on the branches until sp' in'::, 

 snbglohose or short-oblong, dull red with glaucous 

 lilriom, with dry flesh and usually 2 nutlets % in. 

 long, rounded at ends and ridged on the back.' 



1. A. W., IV, .8.5. 

 2. For genus see p. 440. 



, yAJ-^^. 



