Common hawthorn

Description:

This is a small tree which can reach 5–14 m. The bark is dull brown with vertical orange cracks. The younger stems bear sharp thorns, 1 to 1.5 cm long. The leaves are 2–4 cm long, obovate and deeply lobed. The flowers are pollinated by different insects and in late summer bear haws. The haw is a small, oval dark red fruit about 1 cm long, berry-like, but structurally a pome containing a single seed. Haws are important for wildlife in winter which in turn help disperse seeds on their droppings..

Habitat:

St Pietersberg, Maastricht, Holland.