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Vii. Molles

Red Haw (C. mollis, Scheele.)--A tree 25 to 40 feet high, tall trunk; round head, branchlets stout. Thorns stout, brown, 1 to 2 inches long, shining. Bark grey to brown, thin, in plate-like scales; branches ashy grey; twigs coated with pale hairs. Wood hard, heavy, brown. Buds small, blunt. Leaves thick, firm, rough above, dark yellow-green, 3 to 4 inches long, broadly ovate, acute, serrate, with 4 to 5 pairs of pointed lobes above middle; base entire; lining, pale, pubescent; petioles slender, hairy, stipules leaf-like, toothed on vigorous shoots. Flowers, May, 1 inch across, in hairy, many-flowered corymbs, with prominent bracts; disc, red, calyx hoary, red-tipped, stamens 20, with pale yellow anthers, styles 4 to 5. Fruits, August and September, few in a cluster, drooping, scarlet, downy, globular, or nearly so, 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter, marked with dark dots; calyx lobes large, erect, falling as fruit ripens, nutlets 4 to 5, faintly ridged, in thick, mealy yellow flesh. Preferred habitat, rich bottom lands. Distribution, Ohio to Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.

This red haw is the type of a large group containing a dozen related species. Ample in size, fine in form and colouring, there is but one fault the landscape gardener can find. The red fruits fall early in the autumn.

Scarlet Haw (C. Arnoldiana, Sarg.)--A broad, open-headed tree, 15 to 20 feet high, with ascending branches and slender, zigzag, orange-brown branchlets, downy at first. Thorns stout, shining, brown, 2 to 3 inches long. Bark dark grey, with thick scales on trunk; branches pale grey, smooth. Leaves broadly ovate, with shallow lobes, sharply serrate almost to petiole; covered at first with matted white hairs, at maturity lustrous, dark green above, paler beneath and smooth except on slender veins, 2 to 3 inches long and the same broad; petioles 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long. Flowers, May, in broad, compound corymbs; stems velvety; corolla 3/4 inch across; stamens 10, anthers pale yellow, large; styles 3 to 4, densely tufted. Fruit, August, September, soon falling, few in a cluster, erect, nearly globular, bright crimson, 3/4 inch long, velvety, with large, pale dots; flesh thick, juicy, pleasantly acid; nutlets 3 to 4, ridged. Preferred habitat, dry banks. Distribution, Arnold Arboretum in Boston, and Medford, Massachusetts.

The discovery of this handsome hawthorn, not long ago, growing wild within the gates of the Arnold Arboretum, was an event of considerable importance to horticulture; for this tree, laden with its large crimson fruit in August, is a wondrous sight. Added to their beauty, these fruits are juicy, and have a pleasant piquant flavour, for which they deserve especial mention.

In winter, the tree may be known by the remarkable zigzag of its ascending branches. In habit and foliage it is thrifty and handsome. The fruit ripens and begins to fall in August, but a goodly quantity remains to brighten the fading leaves well on into October.

The tree has been found growing wild near Medford, Massachusetts, and is now often seen in cultivation about Boston.

Red Haw (C. submollis, Sarg.)--Tree 20 to 25 feet high, with round, handsome head, branchlets slender. Thorns slender, curved, brown, shining, 2 to 3 inches long. Bark pale greyish brown, scaly; twigs, tomentose, branches orange brown. Leaves ovate, acute, with doubly serrate, pointed lobes above middle; base cuneate, serrate, becoming entire near slender, downy petiole; 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long, almost as wide, pubescent at first, becoming smooth, except on veins beneath, and rough above. Flowers, May, in compound, pubescent corymbs, white, 1 inch across, with 10 stamens, anthers pale yellow, styles 3 to 5, tufted at base. Fruits ripe and falling in early September; in slender, copious clusters, lustrous orange red, pear shaped, with pale dots, 3/4 inch long, with prominent, erect calyx lobes; pedicels slender, velvety; nutlets 5, slightly ridged, in thin, mealy flesh. Preferred habitat, rich soil of woodland borders. Distribution, Quebec to Penobscot Valley in Maine; to eastern Massachusetts; also near Albany, New York.

This Eastern species was long considered identical with the preceding one. It is now distinguished by well-defined characters. It is not so densely downy as C.mollis. The leaves are smaller, more deeply lobed, and usually wedge shaped at base. The fruits are smaller and pear shaped. The branchlets are orange brown. The flowers have ten stamens; C. mollis has twenty. C submollis is one of the showiest and best species for ornamental purposes.

Scarlet Haw (C. Ellwangeriana, Sarg.)--A handsome tree, 10 to 20 feet high, with ascending branches, forming a round head. Thorns 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, stout; tree often unarmed. Bark light grey, scaly; twigs green, with pale hairs. Leaves oval, acute, sharply serrate almost to base, with 4 to 5 acute lobes, rough above, paler beneath, light green, thin, 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long; petioles pubescent, slender; veins strong. Flowers, May, in velvety-stemmed corymbs; calyx, hairy, with stalked glands; corollas 1 inch across, white; stamens 8 to 10; anthers small, rose coloured. Fruits ripe and falling in September, on smooth stems, oblong, bright crimson, shining, 1 inch long, 3/4 inch wide, flesh thin, sour, juicy; nutlets 3 to 5, ridged. Preferred habitat, rich woodland soil. Distribution, about Rochester, New York. Uses: A handsome ornamental tree.