Crataegus opaca

Hooker & Arnott

Compan. Bot. Mag. 1: 25. 1835.

Common names: Western mayhaw
EndemicIllustrated
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 547. Mentioned on page 546.

Trees, 80+ dm. Stems: trunks 0.3 m diam.; twigs: new growth rufous-tomentose, 1-year old medium to dark gray; thorns on twigs 2-years old dark gray to black, 2–4 cm. Leaves: petiole 4–7 mm, length 10–15% blade, short rufous-tomentose; blade ± elliptic to lance-elliptic, sometimes broadly elliptic, 5–7 cm, lobes 0 or sinuate (sometimes more deeply and irregularly lobed on vegetative shoots, then lobes often wider), margins entire or obscurely or shallowly crenate distally, teeth gland-dotted, veins 5–9(or 10) per side, apex subacute to acute, abaxial surface rufous-tomentose, especially along veins, sometimes glabrescent, adaxial usually dull, scabrous, especially young. Inflorescences ± sessile or in 3–6-flowered umbels; branches absent or short, glabrous; bracteoles few, oblong-linear, margins glandular. Flowers precocious, 12.5–17.5 mm diam.; hypanthium glabrous; sepals 4 mm, margins entire or slightly glandular-serrate; petals white to sometimes pale pink, 7 mm; anthers reddish or rose, 1 mm; styles 4 or 5. Pomes red, sometimes yellow, (8–)12–15 mm diam.; pyrenes 4 or 5. 2n = 34.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–Mar; fruiting May–Jun.
Habitat: Seasonally inundated depressions, ditches, sink holes, relict interdune swales, streamsides
Elevation: 10–100 m

Discussion

Crataegus opaca occurs from eastern Texas to Alabama, is most common in Louisiana, and is apparently rare east of the Pearl River, Mississippi. The fruit is edible and used locally for conserves.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Crataegus opaca"
James B. Phipps +
Hooker & Arnott +
Aestivales +
Western mayhaw +
Ala. +, La. +, Miss. +  and Tex. +
10–100 m +
Seasonally inundated depressions, ditches, sink holes, relict interdune swales, streamsides +
Flowering Feb–Mar +  and fruiting May–Jun. +
Compan. Bot. Mag. +
Endemic +  and Illustrated +
Crataegus sect. Aestivales +
Crataegus opaca +
Crataegus (sect. Coccineae) ser. Aestivales +
species +