6. Carriere Hawthorn

Rosaceae

Crataegus x lavalleei

Specimen Size: 29.3 ft tall, 10.75in in diameter.

Location: North of the Yellowwood just west of Anderson Hall

Historical Background: Also known as Lavallée's hawthorn, this species is a hybrid between two cultivated species, Crataegus mexicana and C. calpodendron. It was first described in the Sergez Arborteum, France in 1880.

Non-Native

Native Range: Originally cultivated in France

Identifying Features: This tree is deciduous and grows to a height of 20 to 30” in a dense asymmetrical pattern. Branching is dense but open, and branches are covered with thorns up to about 2’ (5cm) long. Generally seen in a cultivated context. Many types of Hawthorn display lobed leaves but the Carriere Hawthorn has unlobed alternate serrated leaves a dark shiny green color. The fruit resembles tiny cherries in bunches together (Hawthorn is in the rose family so it is distinct as rose hips are) and are red to orange.

Identifying Features In Depth:

Form: Deciduous and asymmetrical growth up to a height of 30”. Thorns on branches sparse or thicker depending on environment. Dense open branching leads to thick foliage.
Leaves: Leave simple and 2-4’ (5-10cm) in length with serrated edges and grow alternately. Appear shiny dark green above and lighter below, with pinnate venation.
Bark: Gray and flakey in strips.
Reproductive Bodies: Produces bunches of white flowers of 5 petals each with yellow centers on terminal ends of branches, very fragrant and only about 1.5cm wide. Flowers give rise to fruit in clusters, red to orange in color and resembling a rose hips. Fruit persists into winter.

Below is the description found for this species on the original Brockman Memorial Tree Tour:

Historic Tree Tour Information: Next to the Yellowwood west of Anderson Hall stands a big dark hawthorn. Its twisted, muscular trunks spreads low into branches, clothed with holly-green shiny leaves. Compared to more common Hawthorns (with jagged leaves) the Carriere is strange. It owes its oddness to being a hybrid, resulting from a crossing of an evergreen Mexican species with an eastern U.S. one. During May it makes small white blossoms; in late fall and indeed early winter it finally colors its large marble sized berries orange-red, and the leaves turn an attractive burnt orange before dropping in December. Few thorns protect this old specimen but young Carriere hawthorns seen at nurseries show vicious nail-like spines-with age comes relaxation of defense.