''Crataegus opaca'', known as the western mayhaw, is a shrub or small tree of the southern

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It is one of several species of hawthorn with fruits known as "

mayhaw Mayhaw is the name given to the fruit of the species of ''Crataegus'' series ''Aestivales''Phipps, J.B.; O’Kennon, R.J.; Lance, R.W. 2003. ''Hawthorns and medlars''. Royal Horticultural Society, Cambridge, U.K. that are common in wetlands throu ...

s".

Description

''Crataegus opaca'' can be characterized as either a small tree or large shrub, with typical height ranging from . It has a tall and narrow trunk with a rounded crown and spiny branches. It has oval, dark green leaves and when in bloom, clusters of pink or white flowers. Its fruits are relatively large and have a cranberry-red color when ripe. Blooms usually appear between February and March, and the fruit ripens from May to June.

Habitat

This species prefers wet, rich, and acidic soils, and is located in low woods, creeks, and river bottoms, often in standing water. Its native distribution ranges from

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

west to

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, and north to

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

Uses

The fruits, known as mayhaws, are commonly used to make jams, preserves, and jellies. While the fruits are bitter raw, the jelly produced from them is highly prized for its flavor.

References

opaca Flora of Alabama Flora of Texas Flora of Louisiana Flora of Mississippi {{Crataegus-stub