Crataegus monogyna – Oneseed Hawthorn – May

General Information Common Name  Oneseed Hawthorn, May Scientific Name  Crataegus monogyna Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height   6-14 m (20–45 ft) Spread  2.4-3 m (8-10 ft) Growth Rate  Slow Bloom Time  Spring Color  Green Flower Color  White Type  Shrub Tree Native  Europe, western Asia

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass  Rosidae Order  Rosales Family  Rosaceae – Rose family Genus  Crataegus L. – hawthorn Species  C. monogyna

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree

Hawthorn scientific name is Crataegus monogyna is a small tree, usually bushy shrubs with a spreading or rounded crown of spiny intertwining branches and twigs, is a traditional component of hedgerows and thus forms so much a part of the European landscape. It is often called white thorn or ‘quick’ – the old word for living, because it contrasted with the dead material used in earlier hedges and fences.

The zigzag shoots, except for some vigorous first-year ones, are armed with numerous short spines. Along the shoots, which are dull red above and green below, are set alternately very small reddish-black winter buds with many scales. The small dull green leaves are variable in size and shape with three to seven lobes usually cut more than half way towards the midrib. The margins of the lobes are either undivided or bear a few teeth towards their apex. The stipules, large on vigorous shoots, soon fall.

Each inflorescence comprises up to about fifteen heavily scented bi-sexual flowers, with petals which are usually white but occasionally pink. The tree begins to bloom properly in May, hence its common alternative name is ‘May’. The small round fruit ( the ‘haw’) changes in early September from green to scarlet. It retains the withered style from the flower, and there is very rarely more than one nutlet within the fleshy edible coat.

When young the bark is smooth and greenish-grey or greenish-brown. Gradually it becomes a darker grey and gets rather rugged. It is often strongly fluted. The sapwood is white, and the heartwood a rust-brown. Being small in size, the timber is not of much account but it was once favored for wood-engravers’ blocks, mallet-heads and tool handles.

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree : Leaves

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree : Full Blooms

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree : Flowers

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree : Flowers

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree : Flowers

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree : Green Fruits

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree : Rep Fruits

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree

Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn – May Tree

Corylus avellana – Hazel

General Information Common Name  Hazel Scientific Name  Corylus avellana Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height   3–5 m (10–18 ft) Spread  3-4.5 m (7–15 ft) Growth Rate  Moderate Bloom Time  Winter Color  Green Flower Color  Yellow, Green Type  Shrub Native  Europe, western Asia

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision  Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass  Hamamelididae Order  Fagales Family  Betulaceae – Birch family Genus  Corylus L. – hazelnut Species  C. avellana

Corylus avellana - Hazel

Corylus avellana commonly known as Hazel is rarely allowed to develop into a tree. Usually it thrives as a small shrub or bush, forming undergrowth or low coppice in woodlands, or as an unwanted component of a tended hedgerow. Hazel is mainly native to Europe and western Asia.

The straight downy grey-brown twigs carry small winter buds set alternately, which are brown at first and green by February. The leaves are alternate, broad and roundish, with doubly toothed margins and end in a little short tip. In autumn they change to brown and finally pale yellow.

The yellow, pliant male catkins, drooping like lambs’ tails, appear from January, having developed through winter from being little grey-green ‘cylinders’. The female flower is much less conspicuous, being a small bud-like structure from which obtrudes several fine crimson stigmas. The fruit is the well known hazel-nut, with a white ‘kernel’ enclosed in a shell that stands in a leafy cup often longer than the nut and which together change from green to dark brown by autumn.

Corylus avellana - Hazel

The bark is smooth and shining and a brownish-red to greenish-brown, with conspicuous horizontal lenticels. On stouter stems the bark becomes silver-grey with a soft brownish tint. The wood is mid-brown in color, strong and hard. Most uses of hazel have been in its round or cleft state, in old crafts that have lately almost died out – particularly that of wattle-hurdle making and for wattle in house-building. It is still the traditional species for pea-sticks, bean-rods, hoops, leathering for hedge-laying, withes (for tying) and for some crates. Once a valuable element in rural economy, Hazel today is usually removed by foresters so that more profitable forest crops can be grown. Many people regret the gradual passing of a lovely form of woodland, which incidentally often harbors primroses, wild anemones, violets, bluebells and champion. They also regret the loss of the ancient traditional crafts of the Underwood worker – as interesting as those of the charcoal-burner and the chair-bodger. Common Hazel is cultivated for its nuts.

Corylus avellana - Hazel : Leaves

Corylus avellana - Hazel

Corylus avellana - Hazel

Corylus avellana - Hazel : Flowers

Corylus avellana - Hazel

Corylus avellana - Hazel : In Autumn

Corylus avellana - Hazel

Corylus avellana - Hazel : Nuts

Corylus avellana - Hazel

Corylus avellana - Hazel

Corylus avellana - Hazel

Corylus avellana - Hazel