''Crataegus azarolus'' is a species of

hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...

known by the common names azarole, azerole, and Mediterranean medlar. It is native to the

Mediterranean Basin In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin (; also known as the Mediterranean Region or sometimes Mediterranea) is the region of lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have mostly a Mediterranean climate, with mild to cool, rainy winters and wa ...

and is a common plant there, growing on sites comparable to those the European

common hawthorn ''Crataegus monogyna'', known as common hawthorn, one-seed hawthorn, or single-seeded hawthorn, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. It is native to Europe, northwestern Africa, and West Asia, but has been introduced in ...

grows on. In the

Arab countries The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western As ...

it is the most common hawthorn species. When growing in the wild, the azerole bears plentiful crops of haw fruits, which are similar to the haws of the European common hawthorn, but more plump. ''C. azarolus'' is often divided into

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics ( morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all specie ...

varieties Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

, for example Christensen in his monograph uses four varieties: *''C. azarolus'' var. ''azarolus'' has orange fruit. *''C. azarolus'' var. ''aronia'' L., has yellowish fruit often with some red tinges *''C. azarolus'' var. ''chlorocarpa'' ( Moris) K.I.Chr. has yellowish fruit * ''C. azarolus'' var. ''pontica'' ( K.Koch) K.I.Chr. has yellowish or orange fruit ''C. azarolus'' has been used historically for a number of medicinal purposes.

Gallery

File:Crataegus azarolus HRM.jpg, Fruit of ''Crataegus azarolus'' File:Hawthorn (Crataegus aronia).jpg, Blossoms of the ''Crataegus azarolus'' var. ''aronia'' File:Frutos del otono.jpg, Orange and yellow azarole fruits displayed alongside common haws,

sloe ''Prunus spinosa'', called blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. The species is native to Europe, western Asia, and regionally in northwest Africa. It is locally naturalisation (biology), naturalized ...

s and

jujube Jujube (), sometimes jujuba, known by the scientific name ''Ziziphus jujuba'' and also called red date, Chinese date, and Chinese jujube, is a species in the genus '' Ziziphus'' in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. Description It is a smal ...

s. File:Crataegus azarolus.jpg, Botanical illustration from Duhamel du Monceau, H.L. 1768. ''Traité des arbres fruitiers'' File:Hawthorn blossoms (Crataegus aronia).jpg, ''Crataegus azarolus'' var. ''aronia'' in bloom

Gallery

References

Further reading