Crataegus pulcherrima

Crataegus pulcherrima
photo by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Crataegus
Species:	C. pulcherrima
Binomial name
Crataegus pulcherrima Ashe
Natural range of Crataegus pulcherrima from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: beautiful hawthorn

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: Crataegus pulcherrima var. pulcherrima; C. macilenta Beadle; C. lenis Beadle; C. abstrussa Beadle; C. ancisa Beadle; C. austrina Beadle; C. contrita Beadle; C. concinna Beadle; C. macilenta Beadle; C. pinetorum Beadle; C. illustris Beadle; C. robur Beadle; C. tecta Beadle; C. incilis Beadle; C. intricata Lange

Description

A description of Crataegus pulcherrima is provided in The Flora of North America. Crataegus pulcherrima is a small understory tree, usually with a single main trunk and bushy crown. It's bark tends to be thickish, dark gray, and rough, or broken into small blocks.

Ecology

Habitat

C. pulcherrima can be found in upland mixed hardwood communities, longleaf pine-oak forests, longleaf pine-scrub oak sand ridges, and holly-mixed hardwood forests (FSU Herbarium). It seems to prefer sandy soils, and can be found in well-drained soil occurring over limerock (FSU Herbarium). This species also occurs more frequently in stands with a low second growth of hardwoods (FSU Herbarium).

Associated species include Longleaf pine, Loblolly pine, Shortleaf pine, and oak species (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

It has been observed flowering in March, April, and May (FSU Herbarium). Fruiting has been observed in May, June, September, and October (FSU Herbarium).

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: R. A. Norris, Robert K. Godfrey, and R. Komarek. States and Counties: Florida: Gadsden, Jackson, Leon, Wakulla, and Washington. Georgia: Grady.