File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (19881938253).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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176 COCKSPUR THORN Crataegus Crus-galli, Linnaeus GENUS DESCRIPTION—Tlie genns Crataegus has the center of Its distribution In eastern North America. It reaches its best development in the groat limestone formations rather common in this part of America. Prior to 1900 fewer than 75 species were Icnown in the world, of which number about 30 were native to North America. At the present time about 700 species of trees and shrubs belonging to this genus have been described. In the State of New York alone 218 species have been described. Porter, in his Flora of Pennsylvania, published in 1903, records 16 species as native to this State. Only 2 species are described in this bulletin Itecause they are practically of no commercial importance and very difficult to identify. FORM—A small tree sometimes reaching a height of 25 ft. with a diameter of 10-12 inches. Trunk short, bearing stoqt and spreading branches which form a broad and rather flat crown. BARK—Grayish to reddish-brown, sometimes roughened by sm-all scales. TWIGS—Smooth, rather slender, at first greenish, later light brown to gray, usually bearing straight or slightly curved and unbranched chestnut-browm thorns about 3 Inches long, BUDS—Alternate, i of an Inch long, often almost spherical, very blunt-pointed, terminal bud usually present and about the same size as the laterals. Lateral accessory buds are often found at the bases of thorns. Blids are covered with numerous, thick, blunt-pointed, chestnut- brown scales. LEAVES—Alternate, simple, obovate to elliptical, 1-3 inches long, long-tapering at base, rounded or short-pointt-d at apex, sharply serrate on margin except towards base; smooth, thick, and shiny on the upper surface when full grown. Petioles short and broad. LEAF-SCARS—Alternate, more tiian 2-ranked, small, cresent-shaped, containing 3 bundle- scars. FLOWERS—Appear about June when leaves are fully developed. They are perfect, white, about § of an Inch across and arranged in smooth-corymbs. FRUIT—Ripens about September but persists Into winter. A globose or pear-like pome, about 2/5 of an inch long, greenish or dull red with persistent calyx lobes at apex, containing small nutlets which are rounded at the ends and 2-3 grooved on the back. WOOD—Diffuse porous; rays very inconspicuous; growth rings variable in width and wavy; heavy, hard, reddish-brown, close-grained. Weighs about 45 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for fence posts and fuel. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS—The Cockspur Thorn, sometimes also known as Newcastle Thorn, Thorn Apple. Thorn, Hawthorn, and Haw, can best be recognized by its long, usually unbranched chestnut-brown thorns, its small neariy spherical buds, its obovate to elliptical leaves with short and flattened petioles, its flowers which are arranged in corymbs, and Its bright, scarlet, apple-like fruit which often i)ereists far into winter. RANGE—Southern Canada and southward through Connecticut and Virginia to northern Georgia, westward to Michigan. Missouri, and Alabama. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Common in the eastern and southern parts of the State. Local in the other parts. HABITAT—Conmion on sandy and gravelly soil. Most frequent on the foothills. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—The Cockspur Thorn is of no commercial Importance as a forest tree It is however, an attractive small tree which has been planted rather extensively for ornamental purposes. It is very variable in its form, leaves, flowers, and fruit. Jt has been planted as a hedge and iu some cases has proved equal to the general requirements. The thorns were formerly used to close woolen sacks in carding mills.
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1. 2. 3. 4. r>. 6. PLATE LXXXVIII. COCKSPUR THORN A iiowering brancli. x *. Longitudinal section «f a llnw.r. natural size. A fruiting branch, x J. Section of a fruit, x A. iJSu'of'abraS"shLvriug tl.orns .vilh bud^ at their l.as..s, .ulargcd.

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