Cockspurthorn
Crataegus crus-galli
Synonyms: Crataegus lucida, Crataegus leptophylla, Crataegus tenax, Crataegus arborea var. ohioensis, Mespilus crus-galli var. linearis, Crataegus angustifolia, Crataegus prunellifolia, Crataegus intermixta, Crataegus crus-galli var. salicifolia, Crataegus regalis, Mespilus poiretiana, Crataegus crus-galli var. bellica, Crataegus crus-galli f. vulgaris, Mespilus prunellifolia, Crataegus pyracanthoides, Mespilus ovalifolia, Mespilus lucida, Crataegus crus-galli ovalifolia, Crataegus insignis, Crataegus ovalifolia, Crataegus laurifolia, Crataegus persistens, Mespilus badiata, Mespilus cunifolia, Crataegus tantula, Crataegus denaria, Mespilus crus-galli var. salicifolia, Crataegus crus-galli var. danielsii, Crataegus permixta, Crataegus cuneiformis, Crataegus crus-galli var. linearis, Crataegus hannibalensis, Crataegus punctata var. tenax, Crataegus crus-galli var. oblongata, Crataegus watsoniana var. inermis, Mespilus nana, Crataegus subpilosa, Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis, Crataegus cherokeensis, Crataegus triumphalis, Crataegus ohioensis, Mespilus crus-galli var. lucida, Mespilus linearis, Crataegus barrettiana, Crataegus operta, Crataegus crus-galli var. splendens, Crataegus sabineana, Crataegus macra, Crataegus livoniana, Crataegus coursetiana, Crataegus watsoniana, Crataegus crus-galli var. rubens, Crataegus danielsii f. glabra, Crataegus crus-galli var. barrettiana, Crataegus crus-galli f. truncata, Crataegus crus-galli var. capillata, Mespilus bosciana, Crataegus bosciana, Crataegus cocksii, Crataegus crus-galli var. regalis, Crataegus uniqua, Crataegus salicifolia, Crataegus alpestris, Mespilus crus-galli var. inermis, Crataegus pachyphylla, Crataegus prunifolia var. ovalifolia, Crataegus crus-galli var. leptophylla, Crataegus crus-galli f. oblongata, Crataegus lucida var. macracantha, Crataegus exigua, Crataegus crus-galli f. inermis, Crataegus vallicola, Crataegus canbyi, Crataegus crus-galli f. rubens, Mespilus salicifolia, Crataegus pyracanthoides var. limnophila, Crataegus danielsii, Crataegus crus-galli f. staminea, Crataegus crus-galli var. attenuata, Crataegus algens, Crataegus crus-galli prunellifolia, Crataegus crus-galli angustifolia, Mespilus cuneiformis, Crataegus truncata, Crataegus prunifolia var. splendens, Crataegus helvina, Crataegus regalis var. paradoxa, Crataegus limnophila, Crataegus linearis, Crataegus viridis, Crataegus arborea, Crataegus bushii, Crataegus crus-galli var. pyracanthifolia, Crataegus crus-galli f. spinulosa, Mespilus watsoniana, Oxyacantha crus-galli, Crataegus crus-galli var. berberifolia, Crataegus pyracanthoides var. arborea, Crataegus crus-galli var. ovalifolia, Mespilus crus-galli, Crataegus paradoxa, Crataegus sublobulata, Mespilus lucida subsp. angustifolia, Mespilus maxima, Crataegus crus-galli f. nana, Crataegus bellica, Crataegus signata, Mespilus lucida subsp. latifolia, Crataegus crus-galli var. exigua, Crataegus acutifolia var. insignis, Crataegus crus-galli var. macra, Crataegus wilkinsonii, Crataegus crus-galli var. pachyphylla, Crataegus crus-galli var. nana
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Crataegus crus-galli, the cockspur hawthorn or cockspur thorn, is a small deciduous tree or large shrub of the family Rosaceae growing 6-10 m tall with a broad, flat-topped, horizontally spreading crown, native to eastern and central North America from Quebec and Ontario south to Texas and northern Florida. The grey scaly trunk supports rigid lateral branches that are armed with long, slender, slightly curved chestnut-brown thorns 3-8 cm long resembling the spur of a rooster. The simple alternate leaves are obovate to oblanceolate, 3-8 cm long, leathery, dark glossy green above and paler beneath, with finely serrate margins above the middle and a wedge-shaped untoothed base, turning brilliant scarlet and orange in autumn. In late spring the tree bears flat-topped corymbs of 8-15 white five-petalled flowers about 1.5 cm across with conspicuous pink anthers and an unpleasant fishy scent. The fruit is a small dull deep red pome 8-15 mm in diameter, persistent into winter, containing 1-2 hard nutlets surrounded by mealy yellowish flesh. It grows in old fields, woodland edges, pastures and along streams on a wide range of soils, and is widely planted as an ornamental and hedge tree.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.