Common Hawthorn
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The Common Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna is a species of hawthorn native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia. Other common names include May, Maythorn, Quickthorn, and Haw.
It is a broadly spreading shrub or small tree 5-14 m tall, with a dense crown. The bark is dull brown with vertical orange cracks. The leaves are 2-4 cm long, obovate and deeply lobed, sometimes almost to the midrib, with the lobes spreading at a wide angle. The upper surface is dark green above and paler underneath.
The flowers are produced in late spring (May to early June in its native area) in corymbs of 5-25 together; each flower is about 1 cm diameter, and has five white petals, numerous red stamens, and a single style; they are moderately fragrant. Later in the year they bear numerous small, oval dark red fruit about 1 cm long, berry-like, but structurally a pome containing a single seed. They are important for wildlife in winter, particularly thrushes and waxwings; these birds eat the berries and disperse the seeds in their droppings.
It is distinguished from the related but less widespread Midland Hawthorn C. laevigata in the leaves being deeply lobed, with spreading lobes, and in the flowers having just one style, not two or three. However they are inter-fertile and hybrids occur frequently; they are only entirely distinct in their more typical forms.
Uses
Common Hawthorn is extensively planted as a hedge plant, especially for agricultural use.
A number of hybrids exist, some of which are used as garden shrubs. The most widely used hybrid is Crataegus × macrocarpa (C. monogyna × C. laevigata; syn. C. × media), of which several cultivars are known, including the very popular 'Paul's Scarlet' with dark pink double flowers. Other garden shrubs that have sometimes been suggested as possible hybrids involving the Common Hawthorn, include the Various-leaved Hawthorn of the Caucasus, which is only very occasionally found in parks and gardens.
Folklore
The warning to retain ones winter clothing n'er cast a clout 'til may is out, refers not to the end of the month of may, but the emergence of the maythorn blossom.
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