How to identify Big-fruit hawthorn (Crataegus macrosperma)
Big-fruit hawthorn typically manifests as a robust shrub or a diminutive tree, which may assume various shapes and sizes based on its growing conditions. Although named for its ostensibly copious fruit size, the fruit it bears is not particularly outsized. The plant inhabits a rambling array of environments, including mesic forests and rocky eminences. Big-fruit hawthorn bears a proclivity for crossbreeding with its congeners, resulting in diverse fruiting behaviors. The ability to hybridize readily contributes to its varied appearance in different habitats.
Lifespan: Perennial
Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
Leaf Type: Deciduous
Small red to orange pome fruit (0.4-0.8 inches / 1-2 cm) with smooth skin and firm flesh.
Clusters of delicate white flowers with 5 petals, 5-10 stamens, and pink anthers.
Oval to ovate leaves (1-3 inches / 2.5-7.6 cm) with serrated margins and visible glands.
Golden green stems turning dark brown with thorns, slim but firm, contributing to plant integrity.
Distinctive aging bark with fissured scales, transitioning from smooth to ridged, typically grey to brownish.
The leaves of big-fruit hawthorn are oval to ovate, measuring 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) in length. They may be sparse or densely glandular, with bases ranging from rounded to cuneate. Each leaf has 3 to 6 lobes per side and an acute to acuminate apex. The margins are serrate and vary in size. Their texture is marked by visible glands, contributing to the plant's distinctive appearance.
The flowers of big-fruit hawthorn are among the first Hawthorns to bloom in spring, appearing in April and May. They form clusters of delicate white blossoms, each with 5 petals and 5-10 stamens. The anthers have a distinctive pink to reddish-purple hue. These flowers emit an unpleasant odor that attracts midges for fertilization. The blooms are small, typically around 0.4-0.6 inches (1-1.5 cm) in diameter, making them a notable feature during their blooming period.
The stem of big-fruit hawthorn exhibits new growth in a golden green hue, occasionally tinged with a strong reddish color, and is glabrous. One-year-old stems are usually shiny and dark brown, transitioning to older stems that possess thorns. The texture of these stems remains smooth, and they tend to be slim but firm. As they mature, these stems significantly contribute to the plant's structural integrity and defense mechanism through their thorny formations.
The fruit of big-fruit hawthorn is a small pome typically bearing 1 to 5 pyrenes, structures akin to the pits found in plums and peaches. Measuring approximately 0.4 to 0.8 inches (1 to 2 cm) in diameter, these fruits are usually red to orange, but they may exhibit variations in hue as they mature. The outer skin is smooth with a slight sheen, and the flesh is relatively firm, encasing the hard, stony pyrenes. Collectively known as 'haws,' they emerge following the flowering period and ripen in the late summer to fall.
Scan QR code to download
Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.
The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.
Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.
The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.
The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.
The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.
Identify a Plant Online
Scientific Classification of Big-fruit hawthorn
