please help identify - thorny tree, red berries, maple-like leaves

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by Jon45150, Nov 18, 2007.

  1. Jon45150

    Jon45150 Active Member

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    Location:
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    This small tree has zillions of small red berries, thorns and maple like leaves. I checked in three different tree books and searched google and cannot find this one...
     

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  2. tipularia

    tipularia Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Looks like a hawthorn similar to Crataegus crus-galli except for the leaves.
     
  3. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Washington hawthorn.
     
  4. Jon45150

    Jon45150 Active Member

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    Now I have to go back and taste the berries and see if the thorns really can pierce metal!

    thanks Ron.
     
  5. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    They'd pierce aluminium foil no problem at all, and that's metal . . . it's all relative ;-)
     
  6. greensbeans

    greensbeans Member

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    looks like the tree we have in our backyard: "the devil tree". since the abundance of large devilish thorns makes it difficult (& dangerous!) to work with we are taking it down slowly, limb by limb, until there's only harmless trunk left.
    i thought it would be identified as a firethorn (Pyracantha spp) but the leaves of these species as well as the hawthorns that i've seen are not maple-like at all.
    i know this thread is old but i would love to know what this tree is before it's gone!
     
  7. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Each tree must be looked at as an individual. Please take pics of the leaves, fruits and thorns/bark if you really wish to id your tree, and post them here as jon45150 did. Then you will be sure what you are dealing with.
     
  8. greensbeans

    greensbeans Member

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    No need to take pics: jon45150 's pics look EXACTLY like our tree
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2009
  9. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Washington Hawthorn seems most likely then.
     
  10. XanderIsMe05

    XanderIsMe05 Member

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    Is This fruit edible or tasty? I've seen these many times and have wondered so..
     
  11. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Edible, but not tasty. Eating them won't do you any harm, but not much fun either. What you'd call 'famine food'.
     
  12. kcsmom

    kcsmom Member

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    An answer to a question....

    Hello.

    I'd like to answer a question that I happened to stumble upon while researching a plant for myself. Of course, now that I'm registered I can't find the relevant thread. If anyone can remember, or find, the person who was trying to ID his thorny maple-leaved shrub with red Fall berries, please pass on the name Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum).

    Thank you:-)
     

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