''Crataegus brainerdii'' is a species of flowering plant in the

rose family Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera. The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are '' Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorbus ...

known by the common name Brainerd's hawthorn. It is named for

Ezra Brainerd Ezra Brainerd (December 17, 1844 – December 8, 1924) was president of Middlebury College, Vermont, United States, from 1885 until 1908. Born in St. Albans, Vermont, Brainerd was a graduate of the college in 1864. Brainerd assumed the presidency ...

(1844–1924), a renowned botanist and former president of Middlebury College, in

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

. It is native to eastern North America, including eastern Canada and the eastern United States.''Crataegus brainerdii''.
NatureServe.''Crataegus brainerdii''.
USDA NRCS Plant Guide. This species is a shrub or small tree growing up to 30 feet tall. The branches are lined with

thorns Thorn(s) or The Thorn(s) may refer to: Botany * Thorns, spines, and prickles, sharp structures on plants * ''Crataegus monogyna'', or common hawthorn, a plant species Comics and literature * Rose and Thorn, the two personalities of two DC Com ...

up to 1.6 inches long. The serrated leaves are somewhat triangular in shape and sometimes slightly lobed. They are hairy when new. The flowers are borne in clusters. The rounded fruit is red and juicy. This species grows best in full sunlight and well-drained soils, but it will tolerate wet soils and

drought A drought is defined as drier than normal conditions.Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D. Jiang, A. Khan, W. Pokam Mba, D. Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, an ...

conditions. It can be planted in urban environments. It can be used as a

windbreak A windbreak (shelterbelt) is a planting usually made up of one or more rows of trees or shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide shelter from the wind and to protect soil from erosion. They are commonly planted in hedgerows around the edges ...

. It is good for

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is dis ...

control. The fruits attract animals.

References

brainerdii Flora of North America {{crataegus-stub