Crataegus crus-galli var. pyracanthifolia
Hort. Kew. 2: 170. 1789.
Leaf blades: extremely narrow (greater than 2.75:1).
Phenology: Flowering Apr; fruiting Sep–Nov.
Habitat: Brush
Elevation: 20–300 m
Distribution
Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.
Discussion
Variety pyracanthifolia has a range to Missouri and Delaware and is especially common in Louisiana and parts of Florida, where it appears to be primarily a bottomland species.
Variety pyracanthifolia is a complex of narrowly leaved forms with glabrous inflorescences that is usually easily recognized. The typical form of var. pyracanthifolia has particularly narrow leaves with very fine teeth; it is the dominant type south of the Mason-Dixon line. North of the Mason-Dixon line is a sporadic morphotype differing by more acute-tipped, narrowly elliptic leaves with more distinct teeth. A form from northern Florida with hairy pedicels (Crataegus limnophila Sargent) is synonymized, as, contra the protologue, and has 0–3 styles. An undescribed form from the Gulf Coast, and perhaps Tamaulipas, is differentiated by more strikingly serrate leaves than any known in C. crus-galli, as well as yellow to orange fruit. Similar, but with red fruit, is C. sabineana Ashe from Louisiana and Texas.
Selected References
None.