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.