Hawthorn
(Crataegus species)

Description: This deciduous, thorny shrub or tree is 30 feet high. The trunk or stems are hard wood with smooth ash-gray bark and thorny branches. The small, shiny, serrated, 3-irregular toothed lobed leaves are dark green on top and light bluish-green underneath. The white flowers with round petals grow in terminal corymbs. The fruit, or haw, is a 2-3 seeded, fleshy pome, scarlet on the outside, yellowish and pulpy on the inside. Various species are found throughout the world. Note: The 1-5 inch straight or curved single thorns of the haw are not found on any of the other native shrubs or trees on this continent which makes this genus easy to differentiate.

Medicinal: It is a astringent, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic, and vasodilator. The leaves, flowers,and haws are helpful in treating heart weakness caused by kidney disease, for irregular heart beat and artery spasms. It dilates the heart’s blood vessels which controls both high and low blood pressure and nervous heart. A tea is also good for nervous conditions, particularly insomnia. Steep 1 teaspoon of the flowers in 1/2 cup water. Take 1-1 1/2 cups a day,a mouthful at a time. Use concentrated preparation under medical direction.