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Xvii. Tomentosae

Pear Haw (C. tomentosa, Linn.)--A tree 15 to 20 feet high, forming a flat, wide head. Thorns scattered, slim, straight, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long; or wanting. Bark dark brown, furrowed; branches grey, twigs hoary tomentose, becoming dark orange colour. Leaves ovate, acute at apex and base, 2 to 5 inches long, shallowly lobed and coarsely serrate, thin, firm, grey-green, persistently tomentose below; petioles stout, winged; veins prominent; autumn colour orange and scarlet. Flowers, March to June, 1/2 inch across, in broad, downy corymbs, ill-scented; stamens 20, anthers rose or yellow. Fruits, October, in erect, many-fruited clusters, persisting all winter, dull orange red, translucent, pear shaped, 1/2 inch in diameter; flesh thick, sweet, juicy; nutlets 2 to 3, ridged on back; grooved on ventral face. Preferred habitat, low, rich soil. Distribution, Troy, New York, to eastern Pennsylvania, central Tennessee and northern Georgia; west to southern Minnesota and south to southeastern Kansas. Uses: Valuable ornamental for its brilliant autumnal colours and persistent fruits.

This is one of the most widely distributed of our native haws. It is cultivated to some extent, but not as it deserves. With the development of horticulture, it will get recognition from nurserymen and from the tree-planting fraternity in general.

Long-spine Haw (C. macracantha, Koehne.)--Tree 10 to 15 feet high, or spreading shrub. Thorns numerous, curved, slender, 2 1/2 to 4 inches long, shining. Bark pale, close textured; branchlets reddish, lustrous. Leaves oval or obovate, 2 to 3 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, acute at both ends, shallowly lobed, and sharply serrate; dark green, often red when opening, leathery, lustrous in late summer; petioles short, red, stout. Flowers, May, 3/4 inch across, in compound, velvety corymbs; stamens 10, anthers yellow. Fruits, September, falling before winter, in erect clusters, globular, pea size, hairy at tips, till ripe, then lustrous, crimson; flesh dry; nutlets 2 to 3, ridged on back, with irregular depressions on face. Preferred habitat, rich, uplands; limestone soil. Distribution, from Montreal region through New England south to eastern Pennsylvania; westward to northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Uses: For ornamental planting.

Its many very long thorns make this a strikingly ornamental tree. The leaves are handsome, and the fruits though small are blood red and conspicuous.