River hawthorn
StarCrataegus douglasii
Synonyms: Crataegus rivularis, Anthomeles douglasii, Mespilus sanguinea var. douglasii, Crataegus sanguinea var. douglasii, Crataegus tennowana, Mespilus douglasii, Crataegus douglasii var. duchesnensis, Crataegus douglasii f. badia, Crataegus columbiana, Crataegus punctata var. brevispina
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Black hawthorn was an important food and medicine plant for many western North American peoples. The fruit was eaten fresh, dried for winter use, and made into preserves and cakes by the Thompson, Okanagan-Colville, Paiute and other groups (Turner et al.). Medicinally, an infusion of the shoots was given to children for diarrhea, and infusions of the bark were used to treat diarrhea and dysentery; preparations of the sapwood, bark and roots served as a stomach medicine, and leaf poultices were applied to swellings (Steedman, 1928). The Cheyenne and other groups likewise valued the plant, and the wood and thorns were used for tools and as probes for boils and ulcers (Hart, 1981).
Gallery
Botanical Description
Crataegus douglasii, the black or river hawthorn, is a deciduous large shrub or small tree in the rose family (Rosaceae), commonly reaching 3-9 m in height with a dense, rounded crown and reddish-brown to grey bark. Its branches bear stout, straight thorns about 1-2.5 cm long. The alternate leaves are obovate to elliptic, 3-6 cm long, with toothed and often shallowly lobed margins, glossy dark green above and paler beneath, turning orange and red in autumn. Clusters of small white, five-petalled flowers with numerous stamens appear in late spring, borne in flat-topped corymbs and giving way to the fruit. The fruit is a small, glossy, dark purple to black pome about 8-10 mm in diameter, containing up to five seeds and bearing sweet, succulent flesh. Native to western North America, it ranges from Alaska and British Columbia south through the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains, typically growing along streambanks, in moist thickets and open woodlands.
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on River hawthorn.
No notes yet.