Crataegus punctata, Jacq.

Form.—Height 10-35 feet, diameter 8-14 inches; trunk thick and short; crown very broad and flat-topped.

Leaves.—Alternate, simple, oblanceolate-obovate, 1½-3 inches long, tapering at the base, rounded or blunt-pointed at apex, irregularly serrate or sometimes lobed, dull grayish-green and strongly impressed-veined above.

Flowers.—May-June; perfect; white, about ¾ of an inch across, in corymbs with tomentose stalks; stamens usually about 20.

Fruit.—Ripens in autumn; an ovoid pome, ½-1 inch thick, red (var. rubra, Ait.) or yellow, (var. aurea, Ait.) nutlets usually 3-4 with 2-5 ridges on the back.

Bark.—Gray, with thin scales on old trunks.

Wood.—Heavy, hard, close-grained.

Range.—Minnesota and western New England, southward along the mountains to Georgia.

Distribution in West Virginia.—A common tree, especially at high elevations. Found growing on Spruce Knob, Pendleton County, at altitude 4,860 feet. Forming almost pure stands on Bickle Knob, Randolph County, near Durbin, Pocahontas County, in Canaan Valley, Tucker County, and at many places along the Alleghanies.

Habitat.—Prefers rich sandy soil of stream borders and mountain flats.

Notes.—The large red or yellow fruits of this thorn help in the identification of the species and give it a very attractive appearance in the fall. The fruits are eaten by the Ruffed Grouse and other birds, and are sometimes used for making jelly. The spines are straight and from 1½ to 2¾ inches long.