The
Black Hawthorn is also known as Douglas Hawthorn, Douglas
Thorn, Douglas Thorn Apple, Western Thorn Apple, Western
Black Haw
'crataegus'
is from the Greek word 'kratos' which means "strength"
referring to the strength of this wood
'douglasii'
is after plant explorer David Douglas
UNIQUE
FEATURES:
because
of their multitude of thorns (1 to 2 cm long)the English
used the hawthorn to make fences to enclose cattle;
the word 'hawthorn' is from the Anglo-Saxon word 'haguthorn'
meaning 'fence with thorns'
The
Black Hawthorn provides good nesting and denning for
birds and small mammals because of the impenetrable
thickets and thorns
LOCATION:
The
Black Hawthorn grows south of Ft. St. John
The
Black Hawthorn appears from sea level to mid elevations
in
meadowland thickets and along water courses
areas
of abundant sunlight
SIZE:
The
Black Hawthorn is a small tree or large shrub, often
grows in a thicket
up
to 8 metres tall
FRUIT:
small
(1 cm) clusters of yellow, red or blackish "apples"
or haw
very
seedy but sweet and edible
when
ripe, whither very quickly
FLOWERS:
appear
in May and June
white,
5 petals
saucer-shaped
occur
in flat-topped clusters
have
an unpleasant odor
LEAVES:
oval,
with 5 to 9 small lobes at the top
sharp,
shallow teeth
3
to 6 cm long
leathery,
glossy deep green on the top side when mature
the
thorns occur at the leaf exits
BARK:
reddish,
brown
few
shallow fissures
WOOD
CHARACTERISTICS:
Black
Hawthorn wood is strong
USES:
modern
- hedges
traditional
- wood: digging sticks, handles; thorns: pierce ears,
lance boils and probe skin ulers, fish hooks; leaves,
inner bark, new shoots: burned together and mixed
the ashes with grease to make a black face paint
