Crataegus rhipidophylla

Description

Crataegus rhipidophylla is a shrub or tree which can grow to 7 m tall. Its stout thorns can be up to 1.5 cm long.

Flowers are in bloom in May and June. Fruits can be seen from June to October.

Taxonomy

The type specimen for Crataegus rhipidophylla is a holotype named by Michel Gandoger. It was collected in 1870 at la Come, in Liergues, Rhône, France.

Despite not being one of the most common European hawthorn species, the type specimen for genus Crataegus L. is a C. rhipidophylla specimen (originally Crataegus oxyacantha L., nom. rejic.)

Varieties and hybrids

There are currently three recognized varieties:

• C. rhipidophylla Gand var. rhipidophylla
• C. rhipidophylla var. lindmanii (Hrabetová) K.I.Chr
• C. rhipidophylla var. kutahyaensis Dönmez

C. rhipidophylla var. ronnigeri (K. Malý) Janjić has been suggested to be used as a valid name for C. rhipidophylla var. lindmanii. Another synonym is Crataegus lindmanii Hrabětova

C. rhipidophylla var. lindmanii can be recognized by its erect or suberect sepals crowning the fruit.

The plant is parent to hybrids (see table). C. × macrocarpa (with C. laevigata) and C. × subsphaericea (with C. monogyna) are intermediates in terms of size and form between the parent species. C. × subsphaericea is found outside the range of its parents.

Distribution and habitat

Crataegus rhipidophylla is a subatlantic species. It has a Eurasian native range, including southern Scandinavia and the Baltic region, France, the Balkan Peninsula, Asian Turkey, Caucasia, the Crimea, and Ukraine. It grows from sea level up to 1,800 m altitude.

This species grows both on limestone and granitic or volcanic rocks. It is one of the few shade-tolerant hawthorn species, growing in shaded parts of continuous forests.

References

References

1. Rivers, M.C. & Wilson, B.. (2018). "''Crataegus rhipidophylla''".
2. [http://www.dendron.dk/art-sum/Christensen2002b.pdf Christensen, K. I. (2002). ''Dansk Dendrologisk Årsskrift'' 20: 13–18 (English summary).]
3. (2007). "Taxonomic notes on the genus ''Crataegus'' (Rosaceae) in Turkey". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.
4. (2008). "Notes on the genus ''Crataegus'' (Rosaceae-Pyreae) in southern Europe, the Crimea and western Asia". Nordic Journal of Botany.
5. Christensen, Knud Ib. (1992). "Revision of ''Crataegus'' sect. ''Crataegus'' and nothosect. ''Crataeguineae'' (Rosaceae-Maloideae) in the Old World". American Society of Plant Taxonomists.