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Friday 19 May 2017

Smith's Medlar

The hybrid between a Medlar and Midland Hawthorn is in full flower in Todmorden Park. Known as xCrataemespilus grandiflora, it was originally referred to as Smith's Medlar in the early 19th C. James Edward Smith was a botanist and founder of the Linnean Society. It was he who managed to buy Linnaeus' herbarium from his widow, which is a bit of a story in itself and the King of Sweden was not best pleased.

It is a most unusual large bush and I haven't come across the hybrid anywhere else. I believe it to be a bit of a rarity. I have yet to see it produce any berries.



2 comments:

  1. Steve and I saw what we thought might be this hybrid at Ogden water, between the car park and the kiosk on the RHS of the road. Could be time for a look

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