Downy Hawthorn
Downy Hawthorn
– Crataegus mollis
Description of Plant
Leaf: Broadly ovate, short-pointed at the tip,
round or slightly notched at the base, doubly saw-toothed with 4 or 5veins on
each side ending in shallow pointed lobes.
Flower: 2.5 cm
wide with five white petals, 20 light yellow stamens, in broad clusters in
spring.
Fruit: Scarlet or
crimsom with dark dots, slightly hairy with a thick juicy edible pulp
containing 4-5 nutlets. Nearly round, 19mm in diameter maturing in late summer
or autumn.
Twig: Covered in
white hairs when young though nearly thornless.
Bark: Brown to
gray fissured into scaly plates.
Form: Handsome
tree with a tall trunk and compact rounded crown.
Discussion of the Plant
The Downy Hawthorn
is one of the largest trees of its genus. It was found in European gardens as
early as 1683. It was originally called the ‘White Thorn” tree.
Copyright
© Sue Grabowski,
Gail Slowinski, Carl Schurz High School 2003
References
Coombes, Allen, J,
Smithsonian Handbook of Trees, Dorling Kindersley, London, 2002.
Little, Elbert,
L., Field Guide to Trees, Alfred A.
Knopf, New York. 1980.
Symonds, George,
W.D., The Tree Identification Book, Quill Publishing, New York, N.Y. 1958.