We have two native species of Hawthorn in Britain, the Common Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Jacq., has a single stigma and therefore only ever one seed in the berry, implied by its scientific name of "one-female". The Midland hawthorn, this species, Crataegus leavigata (Poir.) DC., has two or three stigmas and therefore two or three seeds in the berry. Its leaves are simpler and have fewer lobes, and the flowers are somewhat bell-shaped. As the common name implies, this is generally a tree of the midlands and the Welsh borders. It is seen more often as a tree of damp woodlands than as a hedge shrub. Although, it works just as well when planted in a hedge as does the Common hawthorn.
I discovered several trees in Cornwall during a 2021 botanical survey. This was the first ever recording of it in Cornwall. It had only once been recorded before in Devon. Otherwise, the only south-west area this might be considered an archaeophyte would be in the Bristol-Gloucestershire (vc34, vc33) area.
At Trebrown Nurseries we maintain our own registered seed stands on Trebrown Farm, which remain the only seed stand registered in Cornwall. Crataegus leavigata is not a FRM controlled species. But is FRM Certified under the voluntary scheme.
