English hawthorn

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• midland hawthorn
• smooth hawthorn
• English hawthorn
• whitethorn
• woodland hawthorn

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Oxyacantha monogyna var. rosea
• Oxyacantha vulgaris
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. laevigata
• Crataegus laevigata var. palmstruchii
• Crataegus walokochiana var. globosa
• Crataegus walokochiana var. joachmyii
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. oxyacanthoides
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. auriculata
• Mespilus oxyacantha var. auriculata
• Crataegus oxyacantha proles polygyna
• Oxyacantha matthioli
• Mespilus digyna
• Crataegus oxyacantha subsp. carnoviensis
• Crataegus laevigata var. vulgaris
• Crataegus laevigata subsp. vulgaris
• Crataegus laevigata var. microxyacantha
• Crataegus monogyna var. rosea
• Crataegus coriacea
• Crataegus ariifolia
• Crataegus cuneatotrifida
• Mespilus laevigata
• Oxyacantha obtusata
• Mespilus intermedia
• Crataegus laevigata f. bicrenulata
• Mespilus oxyacantha var. integrifolia
• Crataegus subinermis
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. integrifolia
• Mespilus oxyacantha var. oxyacanthoides
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. gireoudii
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. gireoudii
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. glabrata
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. globosa
• Crataegus oxyacantha subsp. joachymii
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. integrifolia
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. laevigata
• Crataegus oxyacantha subsp. laevigata
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. obtusata
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. obtusiloba
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. ovata
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. mathei
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. microxyacantha
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. microcarpa
• Crataegus oxyacantha subsp. polygyna
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. rosea
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. rosea
• Crataegus oxyacantha sorbifolia
• Crataegus oxyacantha subsp. vernicosa
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. vernicosa
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. vulgaris
• Crataegus oxyacanthoides
• Crataegus oxyacantha subsp. palmstruchii
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. ovoxyacantha
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. oxyacanthoides
• Crataegus oxyacantha subsp. oxyacanthoides
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. palmstruchii
• Crataegus palmstruchii subsp. rhenana
• Crataegus laevigata var. carnoviensis
• Crataegus palmstruchii
• Crataegus laevigata subsp. palmstruchii
• Crataegus laevigata f. rosea
• Crataegus laevigata subsp. carnoviensis
• Crataegus laevigata f. ellipticifolia
• Crataegus laevigata var. integrifolia
• Crataegus laevigata var. mathei
• Crataegus laevigata var. microphylla
• Crataegus laevigata var. ovoxyacantha
• Crataegus laevigata var. sorbifolia
• Crataegus walokochiana var. subrotundifolia
• Mespilus oxyacantha subvar. glabrata
• Mespilus oxyacantha var. obovata
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. subrotundifolia
• Mespilus oxyacantha var. obtusata
• Mespilus oxyacanthoides
• Crataegus oxyacantha f. ellipticifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further organized under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement concludes within the genus Crataegus, where the species Crataegus laevigata is situated.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Crataegus laevigata, exhibits a specific range within the northern regions of the European continent. Its distribution is notably documented across several countries in Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in Denmark and throughout Great Britain. The species is also native to the landscapes of Ireland and Norway. Finally, its presence is confirmed within the borders of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Crataegus laevigata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years through repeated seasonal cycles. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive shoots are elevated well above the ground level, a growth habit that defines its structural development and survival strategy. Specifically, it functions as a phanerophyte in both its primary life form classification and its ecological niche, ensuring that its vital buds and woody structures remain protected above the soil surface throughout its long-lived life cycle.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Crataegus laevigata is characterized by a woody, shrub-like growth form that is entirely self-supporting, lacking any climbing or vining tendencies. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic lifestyles and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant typically attains a height ranging from a minimum of 1.8 m to a maximum of 6 m, with a mean height of approximately 6 m, establishing a robust and well-developed structural presence.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

6 m

Plant height min:

1.8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crataegus laevigata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the standard Calvin cycle typical of most temperate woody species. The plant is non-carnivorous, relying entirely on its root system and soil nutrients for mineral uptake rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a mean leaf size of 7.3 cm², reflecting its structural adaptation to its environment. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 195.1 cm²/g, a metric that indicates the efficiency of its leaf mass distribution and its capacity for gas exchange relative to its biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

7.3 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

195.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Crataegus laevigata is driven by sexual processes, as both asexual reproduction and self-fertilization are absent. The flowering period is concentrated in the month of May, during which the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a drupe-type fruit that is indehiscent in nature. These fruits have an average width of 1.17 cm and contain seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.1598 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.04554 g to a maximum of 0.26217 g. Seed dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, meaning the seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

1.17 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.26217 g

Seed mass mean:

0.159840333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.04554 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Crataegus laevigata has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root.

Flower

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Leaf

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Root

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Crataegus laevigata has 111 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-catechin, (-)-Epicatechin, 2-Phenylchromone, 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE, 5-hydroxy-indole-acetic acid.

(+)-catechin

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Dr. Duke

2-Phenylchromone

1. Dr. Duke

5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE

1. Dr. Duke

5-hydroxy-indole-acetic acid

1. Dr. Duke

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Amines

1. Dr. Duke

Aminopurine

1. Dr. Duke

Apigetrin

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Crataegus laevigata has 702 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Crataegus laevigata has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include heart failure, arrhythmia, cardiovascular diseases, exercise tolerance, high blood pressure.

Heart failure

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing

Arrhythmia

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Cardiovascular diseases

1. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing

Exercise tolerance

1. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing

High blood pressure

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Left ventricular dysfunction

1. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing

Psychosomatic disorders

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Crataegus laevigata has 1 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include rootstocks.

Rootstocks

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)