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Cornell Junior Extension Bulletin 26 



40. THE HAWTHORNS 

 Thorn Apple 



(Crataegus Linnaeus) 

 Hawthorns comprise a large group of small-sized trees. More than a 

 score of varieties are common in New York State. The differences are 

 chiefly in flower and fruit and it seems advisable in this publication to 



Leaf, 

 size 



SCARLET HAWTHORN 



twig', and fruit, two-thirds natural 



call attention to the general characteristics of the group without going 

 into the minute differences that separate the many species. The very 

 small size of the trees, generally less than 20 feet, make them of no com- 

 merical value. In fact, some members of the group may be regarded as 

 a serious pest, because of the rapidity with which they seed up old pas- 

 tures, shading out its available pasturage or rendering costly the prep- 

 aration of the land for forest planting. 



Bark — generally dark brown to gray in color, scaly. 



Twigs — stiff, zigzag, armed with large, generally unbranched thorns 

 from 1^2 to 2 inches long. 



Winter buds — round, chestnut brown in color ; terminal bud usually 

 present but no larger than lateral buds. 



Leaves — simple, alternate, from 3 to 4 inches long, from 2 to 3 inches 

 wide, serrate on the margin; in some species leaves more or less egg- 

 shaped, others from 5- to 9-lobed. 



Fruit — berry-like, in a cluster, each fruit the size of a small cherry; 

 when mature in early autumn, usually red, with from 1 to 5 nutlets in 

 center of fleshy covering ; highly prized by birds in winter. 



