Thorns are modified shoots, and characteristic of hawthorns (Crataegus spp.

You can tell these thorn trees apart by examining various aspects of their appearances. A mature black locust tree produces numerous branches, and has a dark and deeply furrowed bark.

The thorns of black locust trees are short, when compared to that of honey locusts. The cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galis) a native tree from Quebec southward to North Carolina, so it tolerates the cold associated with zone 3.

With their sharpness and size, a hawthorn tree's thorns can cause serious wounds. Several common trees have thorns. In folklore, the story goes that Paul Bunyan used a hawthorn tree as a back scratcher. Hawthorn, Russian olive, honey locust, Osage orange, American holly, crabapple, and American plums are all commonly found in North America. Some believe the crown... Thorn Wound Dangers. Spines are similar to thorns, in that they feature internal vascular tissue, but they arise from leaf tissues, not shoots. How Dangerous Are the Thorns on a Hawthorn Tree? Hawthorns. and honey locusts (Gleditsia triacanthos), among others. ), citrus trees (Citrus spp.) Its thorns reach lengths as long as inches. One of the characteristic features of this tree is the short, prickly thorns that are located at the base of the leaves. This is a flowering tree growing to between 25 and 35 feet high, generating clusters of white flowers during May. Thorns are a defense mechanism evolved by them and are actually modified branches.