19 Jun Not A Weed Wednesday – Round-leaved Hawthorn
Round-leaved Hawthorn (Crataegus chrysocarpa)
Hawthorn can be found in the northern parts of the Special Areas, in low, sheltered areas and in ditches. It is a shrub that can grow to 3 m tall.
Hawthorn can be identified by its uniquely shaped leaves, rounded with serrated edges and lobed ends. Hawthorn produces white flowers in spring and red-orange berries in late summer.
Most notable of the hawthorn are its thorns! These can grow to 6 cm long and are modified branches with a sharp spike on the end. Shrikes use these thorns to impale and store their prey. Hawthorn is known as the heart plant in traditional medicine. Teas made out of the leaves and berries were used to treat all manner of heart concerns. Hawthorn berries are quite mealy, but some people harvest them to make jam.
Contact a Special Areas Rangeland Agrologist for more information on optimal range health and grazing on native grasslands.
