[Hawthorns: The Genus Crataegus West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Huckleberry Hawthorn, Suksdorf's Hawthorn

Crataegus gaylussacia

Synonym: Crataegus douglasii var. suksdorfii, Crataegus suksdorfii

A close-up of the inflorescence of Suksdorf's hawthorn with the 20 stamens per each flower clearly evident.

Characteristics:

Suksdorf's hawthorn is a deciduous shrub or small tree from 1-12 meters high. The bark is rough and scaly with gray coloration on the older branches and the younger branches a pale grayish-brown The thorns are 8-12 mm long. The leaves alternate on the branches, and they are simple with pinnate venation. The leaves are 25-75 mm long, elliptic or oblong in shape, and with double toothed margins.

The numerous flowers are in flat-topped clusters or corymbs. The individual flowrs are about 12-15 mm wide with 5 white, orbicular petals. The sepals are short and triangular. Typically there are 20 stamens (although15 are possible). There are 5 styles. The fruit are black and smooth surfaced, and this is what gives this hawthorn its common name.

This species is similar to black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii). Although leaf shape is commonly used, this may be unreliable. The preferred characteristic used for differentiation is the number of stamens as well as the color of the young branches.

Habitat:

Suksdorf's hawthorn is found in meadows, on dry hillsides, and in riparian areas.

Range:

Suksdorf's hawthorn may be found from southern British Columbia south along the western edge of the Cascades to southern Oregon. It may be found eastward into the Columbia River Gorge.

A typical stem leaf and thorn of Suksdorf's hawthorn. Although variable and sometimes approaching the shape of the leaves found on Douglas' hawthorn on some leaves, the leaves of Suksdorf's hawthorn are typically widest near the middle of the blade as seen above.

Paul Slichter