
Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna

by Yvonne Johnstone
Title
Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna
Artist
Yvonne Johnstone
Medium
Photograph - Digitally Enhanced Photograph
Description
The common Hawthorn is beneficial to wildlife and can support many species.
It is the foodplant of many moth caterpillars.
The flowers are eaten by dormice and provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects.
The haws are rich in antioxidants and are eaten by
birds and small mammals.
The dense, thorny foliage makes a wonderful nesting shelter for many species of bird.
The leaves of the Hawthorn are around 6cms in length and have toothed lobes which cut at least halfway to the mid-rib. They turn yellow before falling in autumn.
Flowers are highly scented, white or pink with 5 petals and grow in flat-topped clusters.
The fruits are deep-red and known as haws.
Uploaded
November 14th, 2023
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