HAWTHORN - Crataegus monogyna: [ 7 ]
Grows to 15m with brown-grey bark that has knots and fissures. Twigs are covered in thorns and green leaves are deeply lobed and up to 6cm long. The highly scented flowers can be white or sometimes tinged pink with 5 petals. They contain both male and female parts and appear in May in flat topped clusters. Pollinated by insects the flowers become red fruits called haws and contain 1 seed. Bees and insects enjoy the pollen and nectar while many caterpillars live on hawthorn. The haws are a good source of antioxidants for birds and some mammals. The dense tree is also a good place to nest. A popular hedging plant the wood is very hard and burns at high temperatures. Young leaves, buds and flowers are all edible.
Grows to 15m with brown-grey bark that has knots and fissures. Twigs are covered in thorns and green leaves are deeply lobed and up to 6cm long. The highly scented flowers can be white or sometimes tinged pink with 5 petals. They contain both male and female parts and appear in May in flat topped clusters. Pollinated by insects the flowers become red fruits called haws and contain 1 seed. Bees and insects enjoy the pollen and nectar while many caterpillars live on hawthorn. The haws are a good source of antioxidants for birds and some mammals. The dense tree is also a good place to nest. A popular hedging plant the wood is very hard and burns at high temperatures. Young leaves, buds and flowers are all edible.
