Handbook of Trees of the XoRTHEr;x States and Canada. 259 



The Long-spine Haw or Thorn is a tree of 

 medium size for its genus, being seldom more 

 than IS or 20 ft. in lieight. with rigid and 

 often crooi-ced branches forming a ratlier open 

 and irreguhir toji. and truiil^ (J-S in. in diame- 

 ter. This is vested in a pale brown or gray 

 bark which exfoliates in small elongated scales. 



It inhabits the banks of streams and ricb 

 slopes, more commonly of limestone forma- 

 tion, and attracts the attention of even the 

 casual observer on account of its numerous 

 very long chestnut bronm thorns, \^hich are 

 rather slender, somewhat curved and often 3 

 or 4 inches nr more in length. We cannot but 

 wonder what may be nature's j)lan in equip- 

 ping this tree with so much more formidable 

 an armament than she has the other species. 

 It is a tree of hamlsonie rich foliage and is a 

 very beautiful object when bearing its large 

 clusters of |uire white floHcrs. as it is also in 

 autumn with its lustrous crimson fruit. 



Leaves broad-oliovate to ovab 2-4 in. loni,'. a!)- 

 ruptly or ffradnally cnueate and entire a( liasr. 

 mostl.v acute or rounded at apex, coarsi'l.\- and 

 sometimes doubly serrate or with short pointed 

 lobes, coriaceous at maturit.v and dull dark .screen 

 with impressed veins above, italer and puln'ruktns 

 on the prominent veins and midribs bi'iirntli : 

 petioles stout, marsined above /'/lorr /-.v, May- 

 Jane. % in. in diameter in man.v-Howcred villose 

 compound corymbs ; calyx with long, narrow, 

 acuminate lobes with dark .elands : stamens 

 usually 10 (or 8-121 ; anthers pale yellow: styles 

 2-.3. tomentose at base. Fniif ripening in Sep- 

 tember in erect many-fruited clusters, sub.globosn. 

 M: in. in diameter. Instrons ei-imson with serrated 

 calyx-lobes retiexed and pcrsistHnt : nutlets 2 or 

 .^. pi'nminently I'idged on the back and with deep 

 ventral cavites. 







Ik 



mm 





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