Crataegus (sect. Brevispinae) ser. Brevispinae

Shrubs or trees, 60–100(–150) dm. Stems: trunks 1–few, erect, bark plated; compound thorns on trunks present when older; thorns on twigs absent or determinate, recurved, short, 1–1.5 cm. Leaves: blade elliptic, 2–3 cm, coriaceous, lobes 0, veins 5 or 6(–8) per side, absent to sinuses, glossy; blades on extension shoots often much larger (more than 6 cm) and variously lobed, to deeper sinuses. Inflorescences: branches glabrous; symmetric bracteoles present, basal stipuliform, falcate bracteoles absent. Flowers: post-mature petals ± orange; stamens 20, anthers cream to orange. Pomes black to bluish black, heavily pruinose mature; pyrene sides plane.

Distribution

sc, se United States.

Discussion

Species 1.

Series Brevispinae is centered in Louisiana and occurs in neighboring states, a distribution unique among hawthorns; the series is disjunct in Georgia. Formerly, Crataegus saligna (ser. Cerrones) was placed in ser. Brevispinae due to similarities of fruit, flower, and foliage. Section Brevispinae is distinct because of its short, recurved thorns, relatively large plant size (in some specimens), narrow, glossy leaves with lobes absent, more or less orange post-mature petals, and black fruit with plane-sided pyrenes. The names Brachyacanthae Sargent and sect. Brachyacanthae E. J. Palmer were not validly published.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Crataegus brachyacantha