Crataegus crus-galli

Last updated

Crataegus crus-galli
Crataegus crus galli 4.jpg
A cultivated form
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Crataegus
Section: Crataegus sect. Coccineae
Series: Crataegus ser. Crus-galli
Species:
C. crus-galli
Binomial name
Crataegus crus-galli
L.
Synonyms [2]
Synonyms list
    • Crataegus acutifoliaSarg.
    • Crataegus albantheraSarg.
    • Crataegus arboreaBeadle
    • Crataegus barrettianaSarg.
    • Crataegus calophyllaSarg.
    • Crataegus candensSarg.
    • Crataegus cherokeensisSarg.
    • Crataegus consuetaSarg.
    • Crataegus hamataE.J.Palmer
    • Crataegus hannibalensisE.J.Palmer
    • Crataegus inferaSarg.
    • Crataegus leptophyllaSarg.
    • Crataegus limnophyllaSarg.
    • Crataegus ludovicensisSarg.
    • Crataegus monospermaSarg.
    • Crataegus pachyphyllaSarg.
    • Crataegus paradoxaSarg.
    • Crataegus parkiaeSarg.
    • Crataegus permeraSarg.
    • Crataegus phaneroneuraSarg.
    • Crataegus polycladaSarg.
    • Crataegus pyracanthoidesBeadle
    • Crataegus regalisBeadle
    • Crataegus rubrifoliaSarg.
    • Crataegus rudisSarg.
    • Crataegus severaSarg.
    • Crataegus strongylophyllaSarg.
    • Crataegus tantulaSarg.
    • Crataegus tardifloraSarg.
    • Crataegus tenaxAshe
    • Crataegus tenuispinaSarg.
    • Crataegus truncataSarg.

Crataegus crus-galli is a species of hawthorn known by the common names cockspur hawthorn and cockspur thorn. It is native to North America and is widely used in horticulture. It produces edible fruit.

Contents

Description

This is a small tree growing up to about 10 meters tall and 8 meters wide, rounded in form when young and spreading and flattening as it matures. The leaves are 5 to 6 centimeters long, glossy dark green in color and turning gold to red in the fall. The flowers are white and have a scent generally considered unpleasant. The fruits are small pomes that vary in colour, usually a shade of red. [3] Most wild varieties[ specify ] of the tree are heavily armed in sharp thorns several centimeters long.[ citation needed ]

A Cockspur Thorn tree in flower, Oxfordshire UK, 5th May 2022. Cockspur Thorn3.jpg
A Cockspur Thorn tree in flower, Oxfordshire UK, 5th May 2022.

Taxonomy

It is thought to be the parent, along with Crataegus succulenta , of the tetraploid species Crataegus persimilis .

Distribution and habitat

It is native to eastern North America from Ontario to Texas to Florida. [4] [3]

Cultivation

This species is a popular ornamental tree, especially var. inermis, which lacks thorns. Many other wild forms would be very suitable for landscaping if better known, and yellow-fruited forms exist. [3]

Uses

The fruit is edible and can be made into jelly or crushed to make tea. [5]

Images

See also

References

  1. ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2018). "Crataegus crus-galli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T135957789A135957791. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T135957789A135957791.en . Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Phipps, J.B. (2015), "Crataegus crus-galli Linnaeus", in L. Brouillet; K. Gandhi; C.L. Howard; H. Jeude; R.W. Kiger; J.B. Phipps; A.C. Pryor; H.H. Schmidt; J.L. Strother; J.L. Zarucchi (eds.), Flora of North America North of Mexico, vol. 9: Magnoliophyta: Picramniaceae to Rosaceae, New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 538–619
  3. 1 2 3 Phipps, J.B.; O’Kennon, R.J.; Lance, R.W. (2003). Hawthorns and medlars . Cambridge, U.K.: Royal Horticultural Society. ISBN   0-88192-591-8.
  4. ↑ NRCS. "Crataegus crus-galli L.". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  5. ↑ Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. pp. 237–38. ISBN   978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC   244766414.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.