Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn
Most lowland hedgerows, especially those around permanent pasture, contain
plenty of hawthorn: farmers like this thorny bush because cattle do not.
The pale hard wood is also sometimes used for carved walking sticks.
This thorny bush can also grow into a moderately big tree, and plenty
of gnarled old specimens are to be seen in some of the remote valleys in
the north and west of Wales.
The blossom is usually white or white with a hint of pink, but some
specimens have striking pink blossom, as does the infertile cultivar
Paul's Scarlet (Crataegus laevigata), illustrated above.
The berries of hawthorns provide a source of winter food
for birds. They are called haws.
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