ITaxdisook of Trees of the IN^oetiieex States and Canada. 



The Holmes Thorn is a beautiful large Thorn 

 sometimes 25 or 30 ft. in height with full 

 round-spreading 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 North 

 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 



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

 broadly cuneate at base (sobcordate on vigorous 

 shoots), acute or acuminate. irrei£?ulai-|,\' double 

 serrate or with short lobes, thick and firm at 

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

 petioles slender, I-IV2 in. long. FlaiDers Mi-?4 in 

 broad, cup-shaped, in many-tlowered mostly glab- 

 rous compound corymbs with slender pedicels : 

 calyx narrow obconic with acuminate glandular- 

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

 with large dark reddish anthers ; styles .".. Pniit 

 ripening and falling in September, mostly short 

 oblong or somewhat pear-shaped in drooping 

 clusters with long slender stems, lustrous crimson 

 V2-% in. long with prominent erect or incurved 

 glandular serrate lobes ; nutlets o, prominentia 

 ridged on the back. 



1. A. W., IV, 86 (as C. coccitia I-.). 



