Crataegus nananixonii

Shrubs, 10–15 dm. Stems intricately branched; twigs: new growth reddish green, pubescent, 1-year old gray to gray-brown, older gray; thorns on twigs straight to slightly recurved, 2-years old dark dull gray, fine, 1–3 cm. Leaves: petiole length 20–40% blade, pubescence not recorded, gland-dotted; blade rhombic-ovate, 1.5–3.5 cm, base broadly cuneate, lobes 0 or with sinuses very shallow, margins ± irregularly serrate, some teeth gland-tipped, especially proximally, veins 3 per side, apex acute, abaxial surface glabrous, veins sparsely pubescent, adaxial sparsely scabrous young, glabrescent. Inflorescences 3–5-flowered; branches pubescent; bracteole margins short-stipitate-glandular. Flowers 12–15 mm diam.; hypanthium glabrous; sepals lanceolate, 4–5 mm, margins glandular, abaxially glabrous; petals slightly clawed; stamens 10, anthers rose-purple; styles 3–5. Pomes coppery red, suborbicular, 10 mm diam., glabrous; sepal remnants present or not, on collar, patent-reflexed; pyrenes 3–5.

Phenology: Flowering Apr; fruiting Sep–Oct.
Habitat: Open sandy sites
Elevation: 200 m

Tex.

Discussion

Crataegus nananixonii is restricted to open sandy sites in Nacogdoches and nearby counties of eastern Texas. The species is a very dwarf and distinctive member of ser. Intricatae, similar to C. biltmoreana but with much smaller parts.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa