Help ID please. Possible Hybrid?

[pulp]

A common sight around the 1920's semi-d areas of Swindon. Among the usual Cherry and Hawthorne there are a lot these trees which have leaves shaped like a Laurel but bark and spreading shape similar to an Oak or a mature Hawthorne. It has suckers at the bottom which have leaves much more like a Hawthorne, completely different to the leaves of its canopy. Grows berries in autumn which are a ginger red colour - not pictured. I love this tree but I am stumped. Any help?

[se7enthdevil]

think that it is just a hawthorn mate. there are lots of trees that have different shaped leaves in the canopy compared to lower down.

[pulp]

I think I need to get a good picture of a twig from this tree with a close up of the leaves. The leaves are definitely not like a Hawthorn, I don't think that's very visible in the pictures. The leaves on the branches are long, laurel like and waxy/shiny. They are thicker, larger and more stiff than a Hawthorn with no indent to them. I can never remember if this tree produces flowers although I guess it must do if it produces berries. It hasn't flowered yet, if it does I'll try and get a snap of those.

[pulp]

This still isn't a very good close up, I took these a week ago in the area they grow. I'll try and get an actual leaf close up this week. Thanks though

[Dean O]

difficult with the pictures supplied but looks like a hawthorn rootstock grafted to a pear?

 

almost definitely a hawthorn rootstock grafted onto something.... perhaps someone else will confirm

[Chris at eden]

Could be Medlar grafted on to a hawthorn rootstock. Pics not great though.

[Andrew Gale]

It could be + Crataegomespilus dardari which is a graft hybrid between Crataegus monogyna and Mespilus germanica , as Chris alluded to.

[nepia]

I'm a bit thrown by the hawthorn suckers which suggests a graft but my thoughts are Crataegus crus-galli given the shiny, waxy leaf but I'm sure the answer can't be that simple!

[Gary Prentice]

It could be + Crataegomespilus dardari which is a graft hybrid between Crataegus monogyna and Mespilus germanica , as Chris alluded to.

 

Brings back memories of a taxonomy assignment:biggrin:

[pulp]

I've had a good search for all the different types of Hawthorn and hybrids and the closest likely match I can find is a Crataegus x Lavallei hybrid. Also known as a Hybrid Cockspurthorn or Lavalle Hawthron. Its a cross between C. Mexicana and a C. Calpodendron. The pictures show the oval waxy leaves with no serrated edge or indent and the flowers and berries look about right. I will try and get a decent close up of a twig with clear leaves and maybe flowers if it does bloom (it tends to leaf out late in the year and keep its leaves well into November so it may still) Sorry for the rubbish pictures. Will get clearer ones this week hopefully.

Edited May 18, 2016 by pulp