''Crataegus punctata'' is a species of
hawthorn known by the common names dotted hawthorn
or white haw that is native to most of the eastern United States and eastern Canada. While some sources claim it is the state flower of
Missouri
Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
, the actual legislation does not identify an exact species. Furthermore, the Missouri Department of Conservation asserts the ''
Crataegus mollis'' was specifically designated as the state flower.
Description
Although many North American hawthorns are
polyploid
Polyploidy is a condition in which the biological cell, cells of an organism have more than two paired sets of (Homologous chromosome, homologous) chromosomes. Most species whose cells have Cell nucleus, nuclei (eukaryotes) are diploid, meaning ...
and reproduce by
apomixis
In botany, apomixis is asexual development of seed or embryo without fertilization. However, other definitions include replacement of the seed by a plantlet or replacement of the flower by bulbils.
Apomictically produced offspring are geneti ...
, this species is apparently diploid and sexual, at least throughout Ontario, Canada.
The name white haw refers to its distinctive pale (grey) bark, which is particularly noticeable in the winter landscape. The plant is a bush or small tree to about 7 meters in height and very thorny, particularly on the trunk. The flower has three to five styles and approximately 20 stamens, and the fruit is a
pome
In botany, a pome is a type of fruit produced by flowering plants in the subtribe Malinae of the family Rosaceae. Pome fruits consist of a central "core" containing multiple small seeds, which is enveloped by a tough membrane and surrounded by a ...
-type
polypyrenous drupe
In botany, a drupe (or stone fruit) is a type of fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a single shell (the ''pip'' (UK), ''pit'' (US), ''stone'', or ''pyrena'') of hardened endocarp with a seed ...
which contains three to five pits. Anther colour varies from deep purple through red to pink to white, and the mature fruit colour can be deep burgundy, scarlet, yellow, or yellow with a red cheek.
See also
*
List of hawthorn species with yellow fruit
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4095586
punctata
Trees of Northern America
Symbols of Missouri
Flora of Northern America
Flora without expected TNC conservation status