150 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
Birds are extremely fond of the fruit of the Hawthorn, and when the haws are very abundant it is generally 
considered that the winter will be very severe, as nature has provided so large a stock of food for the birds 
during that season. The Hawthorn is generally a bush when it grows in hedges, but in open situations it 
becomes a small tree. There are many varieties of the Hawthorn, but the most remarkable is the Glastonbury 
Thorn, which produces its blossoms in the winter. The Hawthorn is the badge of the clan Ogilvy. 
GENUS III. 
THE COTONEASTER. (Cotoneaster, Lindley.) 
Lin. Syst. ICOSANDRIA DI-PENTAGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Flowers polygamous. Calyx turbinate, with ; the side of the calyx, but not cohering in the centre. Bushes, with 
5 short teeth. Petals 5, small, erect. Stamens erect, the length j entire leaves, and cymosc flowers. (Lindley.) 
of the teeth of the calyx. Fruit turbinate, with its nuts adhering to j 
Description, &c. —This genus was formerly included in Mespilus, but it has been separated on account of 
several differences in its botanical construction. The name of Cotoneaster is said to be derived from Cotoneum, 
the Greek name for the Quince ; but why it is applied to this genus it is difficult to say. The genus is placed 
in the same Linnaean class and order as the last. It is somewhat singular that a Nepal species of this genus 
(C. microphylla ) abounds in prussic acid, though all the other kinds of Pomace® contain only malic acid. 
1.—THE COMMON COTONEASTER. (Cotoneaster vulgaris, Lindl.) 
Synonyme. —Mespilus Cotoneaster, Lin. Specific Character. —Leaves ovate, rounded at the base. Calyxes 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot. Supp., t. 2713; 2nd cd., t. 694 *; and and peduncles smooth. (Dec.) 
our fy. 2, in PI. 35. 
Description, &c. —The British species of Cotoneaster has been only found in Wales. It flowers in May, 
and its fruit, which is very agreeable to the taste, is ripe in July. The flowers, which are pinkish, are very 
small, but they are rather pretty, and the leaves are very neat and compact. It only grows on limestone 
cliffs hanging over the sea. 
GENUS IY. 
THE PEAR TRIBE. (Pyrus, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. ICOSANDRIA DI-PENTAGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx 5-toothed. Petals roundish, spreading. with serrated, undivided, "or pinnated leaves, and cymose flowers. 
Styles 2, 3, or 5. Fruit fleshy, with 5 distinct cells. Eudocarpium Bractea: deciduous. (Lindley.) 
cartilaginous. Seeds 2 in each cell. Testa cartilaginous. Trees, 
Description, &c. —This genus is divided into two distinct sections, in one of which the leaves are simple, 
and in the other pinnatifid : the first of these sections contains plants widely different from each other, such as 
the Pear, the Crab, and the White Beam Tree; and even in the second section, though there are only two 
species, the fruit of these are quite distinct in their forms. The name of Pyrus is derived from perm , the 
Celtic word for a pear. The genus is placed in the same Linmean class and order as the Cotoneaster. 
