mountain hawthorn

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese haw
• Chinese hawthorn
• Mountain Hawthorn

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mespilus pinnatifida
• Mespilus pentagyna var. pinnatifida
• Crataegus oxyacantha var. pinnatifida

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. It is further categorized under the genus Crataegus, specifically identified by the species Crataegus pinnatifida.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across Northern Asia and parts of East Asia. In the region of Siberia, its presence is specifically noted within West Siberia. Moving toward the Russian Far East, the species can be found in the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye regions. Additionally, its habitat extends into China, where it is located in Inner Mongolia. These diverse locations highlight the broad ecological range of Crataegus pinnatifida.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crataegus pinnatifida is characterized by its adaptability to diverse topographical and substrate conditions, ranging from low-lying areas to significant altitudes. This species thrives across a broad elevational gradient, with a minimum altitude of 100 m AMSL and a maximum reach of up to 1500 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 800 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are notably varied, allowing it to colonize several distinct environments including mountainous terrains, riverine systems, and sandy soils. Additionally, it is frequently found growing within shrubberies and across stony places, demonstrating a robust ability to establish itself in both rugged and shifting ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

mountains, rivers, sand, shrubberies, stony places

Life history

The life history of Crataegus pinnatifida is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it maintains its growth and structural integrity over many successive years rather than completing a single reproductive cycle. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a seasonal phenological transformation where it sheds its foliage annually in response to environmental cues, typically during colder or drier periods, to conserve moisture and energy. This lifecycle involves a period of active vegetative growth and flowering during the warmer seasons, followed by a dormant phase during the winter months, after which it regrows its leaves and continues its long-term developmental processes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Crataegus pinnatifida is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. This species typically reaches a mean height of 6 m, with a maximum height reaching up to 6 m. Unlike climbing species, it is categorized as a self-supporting plant, maintaining its structure through its woody development without the need for external support.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crataegus pinnatifida is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative structure is defined by leaves that exhibit an ovate form with dissected margins. These leaves demonstrate significant morphological variation in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining a mean length of 7.5 cm. The width of the foliage is similarly variable, measuring at least 4 cm at its minimum and reaching a maximum of 7.5 cm. Furthermore, the leaf anatomy is notable for the absence of both leaf thorns and leaf spines, contributing to its specific structural profile.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf margin :

dissected

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Crataegus pinnatifida is characterized by a specific flowering period and the development of distinct pomaceous fruits. The flowering process typically commences in May and concludes within the same month, though the timing can be variable. During the reproductive phase, the plant produces inflorescences that are relatively small, ranging in length from a minimum of 0.04 m to a maximum of 0.06 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that exhibit consistent dimensions; these fruits have a mean length and width of 1.25 cm, with minimum measurements of 1 cm for both length and width, and a maximum size reaching 1.5 cm in both length and width.

Flowering time :

May

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.06 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.04 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Crataegus pinnatifida has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Natural product research

Chemicals

Crataegus pinnatifida has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Polysaccharide, Dineolignan, Gallic acid, Lignans.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology
4. International journal of clinical and experimental medicine
5. Frontiers in nutrition

Polysaccharide

1. Frontiers in veterinary science
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Dineolignan

1. Natural product research

Gallic acid

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Lignans

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

PAS

1. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology

Phenols

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Proanthocyanidin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Proanthocyanidins

1. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology

Terpenoids

1. Frontiers in nutrition

Activities

Crataegus pinnatifida has 7 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hypolipidemic, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antiviral.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmacognosy magazine
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Organic & biomolecular chemistry

Hypolipidemic

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology

Antiviral

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cardioprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytoprotective

1. Organic & biomolecular chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Crataegus pinnatifida has 33 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include obesity, hepatic steatosis, hyperlipidemia, NAFLD, cardiovascular disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations