Haxdbook ciF Teezs of the Xoetiikrx States and Ca 



The Pear Thorn is a very di-.tiiiet species, 

 but not of large stature. It sometimes attains 

 a lieight of IS or 2U ft. witli upriglit or spread- 

 ing top of rigid tortuous branches and trunli 

 5 or 10 in. in diameter, or is often shrubby 

 with several stems. The trunks are usually 

 well armed ^vlth formidable thorns and cov- 

 ered with ratlier smooth bark of pale gray or 

 'ijrown color and finally exfoliating in thinnish 

 platedike scales. It is of wider range than 

 most of the American species. occu]iying low- 

 rich soil in localities frnm eastern New York 

 to Kansas and frnm the Great Lakes to the 

 southernmost slopes of the Alleghanips, but is 

 not everywhere in this range abundant. West- 

 ern Xew York and southeastern Missouri seem 

 to be th? regions of greatest abundance. It 

 is easily recognizable on account of its large 

 membranous leaves about equally |iriinted at 

 both ends and its ample upright clusters of 

 siii:in oblong or ]irar-sbaped fruit, which it 

 retains long after the leaves have fallen. In 

 this late retention of its handsome fruit and in 

 the brilliancy of its autumnal colors lie its 

 chief points of ornamental value, for wliich it 

 is occasionally planted in American and Eu- 

 ropean gardens. 



Lrincs elliptic to obovate-oblont'. ?,-Tt in. lim.ir. 

 cnneate and entire at l>ase and decurrcnt nn the 

 short petiole, mostly acute at apex, sbaridy den- 

 tate or somewhat lobed above at maturity, tliin- 

 nish. scabrous or glabrous above. pu!>escfint be- 

 neath : petioles stout. Floircr^ in early .Tune, 

 about V2 in. across in many-flow-ered tomentose 

 compoun'd corymbs : calyx with narrow laciniate- 

 sprrulate lobes : stamcn.s 10 ; anthers pah' rose- 

 colntPd ; styles 2-."). Fniif ripens in October and 

 persists nearly until spring, red, in erect many- 

 fnu'fed clusters, mostly pear-shaped or obloni-. 

 with reflexed calyx lobos : stones 2 or ?>. broad 

 rounded on the back and with t\vi.> large ventral 

 cavities. 



