Hawthorn
Hawthorn
Scientific Name:
various Crataegus species
Family Name:
Rose Family
Hawthorns are a varied group of shrubs and small trees found throughout North
America. Some sources list 1000 species present here, and others list only 100.
The taxonomy seems to be rather confused, and many seem to be difficult to distinguish
from their brothers or sisters. Regardless, all have sharp thorns on the branches
and younger stems. These may be up to one inch in length. Hawthorns spread easily,
either by suckering, whereby the roots send up new shoots wherever the roots
come close to the grounds surface, or when the berries are eaten by birds and
mammals, with the digestion process scarifying (removing part of the seed coat)
the seeds so that germination may occur when the animal deposits the seeds with
its wastes.
Below you will find only a few of the common species or varieties found
in the Pacific Northwest.
Black Hawthorn
Domestic Hawthorn #1
Domestic
Hawthorn #2
Paul Slichter