Handbook of Trees of the Xortheeis^ States and Ca-n^ada. 



The Holmes Thorn is a beuvitiful large Thorn 

 sometimes 25 or 30 ft. in height with full 

 rouiid--preading top and a clear trunk 12-18 

 in. in diameter and sometimes 5-7 ft. to the 

 branches. This is usually ridged and fluted 

 and is covered with a gray or light brown bark 

 which exfoliates in thin closely appressed 

 scales. Before the recent study and revision 

 of the Crataegus this tree was called the Scarlet 

 Thorn and considered to be one of the many 

 and various forms comprehended in the species 

 C coccinea L. In the revision this form has 

 been given specific rank and named after 

 Prof. J. A. Holmes, State Geologist of Xorth 

 Carolina. It is quite an abundant tree, occu- 

 pying well-drained slopes and uplands, the bor- 

 ders of swamps, etc.. and is a tree of highly 

 ornamental value. 



The wood is heavy, hard, very close-grained 



and suitable for use in turnery. i 



Leaves oval to ovate. 2-4 in. long, rounded or 

 broadl,y cuneate at base (subcordate on vigorous 

 shoots), acute or acuminate, irregularly double 

 serrate or with short lobes, thick and firm at 

 maturity, smooth yellow-green above. 2-5 in. long ; 

 petioles slender. 1-1% in." long. Fioicers %-% in 

 broad, cup-shaped, in many-flowered mostly glalj- 

 rous compound corymbs with slender pedicels ; 

 calyx narrow obconic witli acuminate glandular- 

 serrate or entire lobes: stamens usually- o (or 6-8) 

 with large dark reddish anthers ; styles .'i. Fruit 

 ripening and falling in September, mostly short 

 oblong or somewhat pear-shaped in drooping 

 clusters with long slender stems, lustrous crimson 

 ^2-% in. long with prominent erect or incurved 

 glandular serrate lobes ; nutlets 3, prominentlr 

 ridged on the back. 



1, A. W., IV. .SG las l_'. corciiia I.. I . 



