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Crataegus (From kratos strength)

(from kratos, strength; in reference to the hardness and strength of the wood). Hawthorn. ORD. Rosaceae. Hardy shrubs or small trees, often spiny. Flowers mostly white, in terminal corymbose cymes; bracts subulate, deciduous. Fruit ovoid or globose, with a bony one to five-celled stone, or with five bony one (rarely two) seeded stones. Leaves simple, lobed, or pinnatifid. There are about fifty species, all of which are confined to North temperate regions. In the New World, the home of the majority of the species, the genus extends into New Grenada. Few hardy shrubs are more useful and ornamental than the Hawthorn. It makes, perhaps, a better hedge than any other shrub, as it grows quickly, and will generally thrive in most soils. When preparing plants for this purpose, the fruits, or "haws," should be gathered in October, and laid in a heap to rot, being at first spread rather thinly, to prevent heating. They should then be mixed with about one-third their bulk of either fine sifted soil or sand, and be overlaid with a covering of soil, from 4in. to 6in. in thickness. Here they may remain till the time of sowing--in October of the following year--though some cultivators prefer to sow in spring, in order to avoid the depredations of mice, &c. The gound should be previously well dug and cleaned. The seed may be sown in drills, 1 1/2in. deep, and 12in. from each other. They should be evenly spread in the furrows, at the rate of half a bushel of mixed seed and sand to forty yards of furrow, and then covered by means of a rake. The surface should, however, be left a little rough, so as to break the effects of rain, which is apt to cause it to cake, when made very fine. So soon as the seedlings show themselves above ground, the hoe should be passed between the rows, to loosen the earth and clear it of weeds. With good management, a bushel of seed will produce about 4000 plants. The majority of nurserymen never follow the plan above described, but simply sow the seed in beds from 3ft. to 4ft. wide, leaving alleys about 1ft. in width, to allow the beds to be weeded by hand or watered. The largest seedlings are removed for transplantation at the end of the first year. A succession of seedlings will often be furnished by an ordinary seed-bed for about three years. When the time comes round for transplanting, in October, the young plants should be lifted, by first loosening the earth with a spade, on each side of the row, and the strongest drawn out. The small ones remaining should stand for another year, after the soil is again trodden down. Transplanting is best performed by cutting out a perpendicular trench, from 6in. to 8in. deep, in which plants are placed singly by the hand, the roots being previously shortened with a sharp knife, to make them grow bushy. The soil should then be trodden firmly about them. The plants should be allowed to stand in these drills for two years, or even three, before being permanently placed out. Such is the plan pursued by those who require a large number of plants; but, for general purposes,it is best to purchase the "quicks" of nurserymen, whose special business it is to rear them. The different varieties to be increased, must be grafted or budded. The rules for both these methods are very similar to those laid down for other trees or shrubs. See Budding and Grafting. When in a young state, Hawthorns, especially the double pink and white varieties, make very desirable pot plants, and will bear a slight amount of forcing. By this means, they serve as excellent early spring ornaments for decorative purposes. The pyramid or standard form is most suitable and pleasing for pot plants.

C. apiifolia (Apium-leaved). fl. white; pedicels of the corymb usually simple, and as well as the oblong tube of the calyx, villous. May and June. fr. deep red, ovoid. l. deltoid, pinnately five to seven-cleft; lobes acute, deeply toothed. h. 8ft. to 10ft. United States, 1812.

C. Aronia (Aronia). See C. maura.

C. Azarolus (Azarole). fl. white, sweet-scented. May. fr. red or yellow, ovate, globose, with a very agreeable taste when fully ripe. l. pubescent, cuneated at the base, trifld; lobes obtuse, coarsely few-toothed. Branches, corymbs, and calyces pubescent. h. 15ft. to 20ft. South Europe, Levant, &c., 1640. (B. R. 1897.) C. caroliniana (Carolina). A synonym of C. flava.

C. carpatica (Carpathian). A synonym of C. nigra.

C. coccinea (scarlet). fl. white; petals orbicular. May. fr. bright coral-red, ovoid, large, scarcely edible. l. roundish-ovate, sharply toothed and cut, glabrous. h. 20ft. to 30ft. United States, 1683. (B. M. 3432.) A large number of varieties of this species may be raised from seed. The following are those generally known: corallina (coralline), glandulosa, glandulosa (glandular), indentata (indented-leaved), macracantha (large-spined), maxima (largest), minor (smaller-fruited), neapolitana (Neapolitan), subvillosa (slightly-hairy).

C. cordata (heart-shaped). Washington Thorn. fl. white. May and June. fr. red, very small, depressed, globose. l. broadly ovate or triangular, mostly truncate, or a little heart-shaped at the base. h. 6ft. to 10ft. United States, 1738. SYN. C. populifolia. (B. R. 1151.) C. Crus-galli. Cockspur Thorn. fl. white, tinged with red; anthers red. May. fr. scarlet, edible. l. obovate-cuneiform, nearly sessile, shining, glabrous, falling off late in the autumn; stipules linear. Spines very long. h. 10ft. to 30ft. North America, 1691. SYN. C. lucida. (W.D.B. 56.) The following are varieties of this species:

C. C.-g. linearis (linear). l. linear, lanceolate. Spines few, shorter. C. C.-g. nana (dwarf). l. ovate-lanceolate, paler beneath. C. C.-g. ovalifolia (oval-leaved).* fl. white. Mayand June. l. oval, serrated, rather pilose on both surfaces, shining above; stipules half cordate, deeply serrated, glandular. h. 10ft. to 20ft. United States, 1810. (B. R. 1860.) C. C.-g. prunifolia (Prunus-leaved).* fl. white; peduncles and calyces rather villous. May and June. l. broad-ovate, unequally serrated, glabrous; petioles rather glandular. h. 15ft. to 20ft. North America, 1818. (B. R. 1868.) C. C.-g. pyracanthifolia (Pyracantha-leaved). l. oblong-lanceolate, somewhat cuneiform. SYN. C. salicifolia.

C. C.-g. splendens (splendid). l. obovate-cuneiform. C. Douglasii (Douglas's).* fl. white. May. fr. dark purple, small. l., some obovate, some oval, doubly serrated, wedge-shaped at the base, glabrous. Branches ascending; spines rigid, straightish. h. 10ft. to 15ft. North-west America, 1827. (B. R. 1810.) C. flava (yellow).* fl. white, usually solitary. May. fr. yellow, turbinate, edible. l. obovate-cuneiform, somewhat lobate, crenate-serrated; petioles short; stipules cordate, and, as well as the calyces, glandular. h. 12ft. to 20ft. United States, 1724. SYN. C. caroliniana and C. glandulosa. (B. R. 1939.) C. florentina (Florentine). fl. white. May. fr. ovate, globose. l. ovate-oblong, cordate at the base, deeply serrated, tomentose beneath, as well as on the calyces. h. 20ft. to 30ft. Florence, 1800. C. glandulosa (glandular). A synonym of C. flava.

C. heterophylla (various-leaved).* fl. white; corymbs many-flowered, glabrous. May. l. glabrous, falling off very late in the season, cuneiform-lanceolate, somewhat three-lobed or pin-natifid at the apex; lobes sub-serrated, acute. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Orient, 1816. (B. R. 1161, 1847.) C. lucida (shining). A synonym of C. Crus-galli.

C. maroccana (Marocco). A synonym of C. maura.

C. maura (Mediterranean). fl. white; pedicels elongated; corymbs terminal, glabrous. May. fr. scarlet. l. cuneated, three-lobed and pinnatifid, glabrous and glandless; stipules sub-palmately cut. h. 15ft. to 20ft. South Europe, 1822. SYNS. C. Aronia and C. maroccana.

C. melanocarpa (black-fruited). fl. white; calycine lobes reflexed, villous. May and June. fr. black. l. usually trifid, serrated in front, acutish at the base. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Tauria, 1820. SYN. C. Oxyacantha Oliveriana. (B. R. 1933.) C. mexicana (Mexican). fl. white, large; corymbs terminal. June. fr. large, pale green, or yellowish, when ripe resembling a small apple, but not edible. l. oval-lanceolate, notched and serrated, acuminate, somewhat ciliated at the base; petioles short, channelled, with a winged margin. h. 10ft. to 15ft. Mexico, 1824. Evergreen against a wall, and sub-evergreen as a standard,in the climate of London and southwards. (B. R. 1910.) C.microcarpa (small-fruited). A synonym of C. spathulata. C. nigra (black).* fl. white; calyces villous. May and June. fr. black. l. lobately sinuated, serrated, truncate, and somewhat cuneated at the base, clothed with hoary villi beneath; stipules oblong, doubly serrated. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Eastern Europe, 1819. SYN. C. carpatica. (L. B. C. 1021.) C. odoratissima (very sweet-scented).* fl. white, very sweet-scented, corymbose. May and June. fr. yellow, globular, large. l. deeply pinnatifid, pubescent; lobes lanceolate, acute, serrated. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Crimea. (B. R. 1885.) C. orientalis (Eastern).* fl. white. May and June. l. three-lobed pubescent beneath; lobes ovate, deeply toothed at the apex, the middle one trifid; stipules broad, cut. Branches clothed with hoary tomentum. h. 12ft. to 20ft. Levant, 1810. SYN. C. sanguinea. (B. R. 1852.) C. Oxyacantha (sharp-spined).* Common Hawthorn; White-thorn. fl. white, occasionally pink, sweet-scented, corymbose. Spring. fr. dark red, occasionally yellow, mealy, insipid. l. obovate-cuneiform, trifid or pinnatifid, glabrous and shining. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Britain. The varieties of this are very numerous. The following are the most important: C. O. petala (without petals). fl. without petals, or nearly so. C. O. aurantiaca (orange).* fr. orange-coloured.

C. O. aurea (golden).* fr. roundish, golden-yellow. A most distinct variety. C. O. capitata (headed). Of a somewhat fastigiate habit, and producing its flowers in close heads, mostly at the extremities of its branches. C. O. eriocarpa (wooly-fruited).* fr. wooly when young. A robust, rapidly-growing variety, with large leaves, strong thick shoots, a clear white bark, and few thorns.

C. O. filicifolia (fern-leaved).* l. deeply cut, fern-like. C. O.flexuosa (zigzag). Branches small, twisted in a zigzag manner. C. O. flore-pleno albo (white double-flowered). fl. white, dying off a beautiful pink, double, produced in great profusion. C. O. foliis-argenteis (silver-leaved). l. variegated with white. C. O. foliis-aureis (golden-leaved). l. variegated with yellow. C. O. horrida (horrid). A very prickly variety.

C. O. laciniata (cut).* l. finely cut, plant less robust, and the fruit smaller than in the type.

C. O. obtusata (obtuse). Distinguished from the type by its smaller, obovate, less cut, flat, and shining leaves.

C. O. Oliveriana (Oliver's) A synonym of C. melanocarpa. C. O. praecox (early).* Glastonbury Thorn. fl. frequently out on Christmas Day. l. appearing in January or February.

C. O. pteridifolia (Pteris-leaved).* This resembles the variety laciniata, but the leaves are longer in proportion to their breadth, and more elegantly cut. C. O. punicea (scarlet). A synonym of C. O. rosea-superba. C. O. quercifolia (Oak-leaved). Oak-leaved. Very distinct.

C. O. rosea (rose-coloured). fl., petals pink, with white claws. C. O. rosea-superba (superb rose-coloured) has larger petals, which are of a dark red, without white on the claws. SYN. C. O. punicea. C. O. sibirica (Siberian). An early-leafing variety. C. parvifolia (small-leaved). fl. white,small, usually solitary. May. fr. yellow, rather turbinate. l. obovate-cuneiform, deeply serrated, pubescent; stipules setaceous. h. 6ft. United States, 1704. SYN. Mespilus parvifolia. (W. D. B. 65.) C. populifolia (Poplar-leaved). A synonym of C. cordata. C. punctata (dotted). fl. white; calyx rather villous. May. l. obovate-cuneiform, glabrous, serrated. h. 15ft. to 20ft. United States, 1746. (W. D. B. 57.) There are varieties of this species with either yellow or red fruit, which are usually dotted.

C. Pyracantha (Pyracantha).* Evergreen Thorn. fl. white. May. fr. of a beautiful scarlet colour, about the size of a pea, disposed in cymes, remaining on the tree nearly all the winter. l. glabrous, evergreen, ovate-lanceolate, crenate. h. 10ft. to 20ft. South Europe, &c., 1629. There are one or two forms of this species.

C. pyrifolia (Pyrus-leaved). fl. white. June. fr. yellowish-red, small. l. ovate-elliptic, deeply serrated, rather plicate and somewhat hairy. h. 6ft. to 10ft. United States, 1765. (B. R. 1877.) C. salicifolia (Willow-leaved). A synonym of C. Crus-galli pyracanthifolia. C. sanguinea (bloody). A synonym of C. orientalis.

C. spathulata (spathulate). fl. white; corymbs few-flowered; pedicels short; calyces tomentose. May. l. small in fascicles, narrowed a long way at the base, somewhat spathulate and trifid. Spines strong. h. 8ft. to 12ft. United States, 1806. SYN. C. microcarpa. (B. R. 1846.) C. tanacetifolia (Tansey-leaved).* fl. white; calycine lobes acutish, reflexed, hairy. May. fr. greenish-yellow, globose. l. deeply pinnatfid, downy; lobes oblong, acute, few-toothed. h. 12ft. to 20ft. Levant, 1789. (B. R. 1884.)