Editing Crataegus (section)

==Description==

''Crataegus'' species are [[shrub]]s or small trees, mostly growing to {{cvt|5|–|15|m|ft|round=5}} tall,<ref name=Phipps>Phipps, J. B., O'Kennon, R. J., Lance, R. W. (2003). ''Hawthorns and medlars''. Royal Horticultural Society, Cambridge, U.K.</ref> with small [[pome]] fruit and (usually) thorny branches. The most common type of [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is smooth grey in young individuals, developing shallow longitudinal fissures with narrow ridges in older trees. The [[Thorn (botany)|thorn]]s are small sharp-tipped branches that arise either from other branches or from the trunk, and are typically {{cvt|1-3|cm|in|frac=2}} long (recorded as up to {{cvt|11.5|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=in|disp=or}} in one case<ref name=Phipps/>). The leaves grow spirally arranged on [[Shoot (botany)|long shoot]]s, and in clusters on [[spur shoot]]s on the branches or twigs. The leaves of most species have lobed or serrated margins and are somewhat variable in shape.<ref name=":0" /> Flowers are five-petalled and grow in flat-topped clusters and are most typically white, although they can also be pale pink or occasionally scarlet in colour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trust |first=Woodland |title=Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) |url=https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/hawthorn/ |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=Woodland Trust |language=en-GB}}</ref> The fruit, sometimes known as a "haw", is [[Berry (botany)|berry]]-like but structurally a [[pome]] containing from one to five [[pyrena|pyrenes]] that resemble the "stones" of [[plum]]s, [[peach]]es, etc., which are [[drupaceous]] fruit in the same [[family (biology)|subfamily]].<ref name=":0" />

{{gallery|mode=packed
|Crataegus monogyna - Common hawthorn.jpg|''[[Crataegus monogyna]]''
|(MHNT) Crataegus monogyna - flowers and buds.jpg|Close-up of ''C.&nbsp;monogyna'' flowers
|Scarlet hawthorn in flower.jpg|Scarlet hawthorn
}}