CRATAEGUS AZAROLUS var. ARONIA

Family and Genus:- See- ROSACEAE

Common Names:- Mediterranean medlar

Homotypic Synonyms:- Crataegus chrysoclada, Crataegus xruscinonensis

var. aronioides.

Meaning:- Crataegus (Gr) Strong. A name used by Greek philosopher

Theophrastus for the hawthorn's timber.

Azarolus The Italian vernacular name.

Aronia A derivative name from Aria.

General description:- Shrub or small tree up to 10 m; twigs covered with short,

dense, matted hairs, blackish after the fall of the hairs; spines few.

Leaves:-

1) 30-50 x 25-40 mm, rhombic to obovate-oblong, cuneate, coriaceous, tomentose

on both surfaces;

a) lobes, 3(-5), subobtuse, entire, the sinuses less deep.

2) Stipules, falcate. margins serrate.

Flowers:-

1) 15-20 mm. diam.

2) Hypanthium and pedicels densely tomentose.

3) Sepals, shortly acuminate.

4) Styles, 1-2(-3); rarely connate.

Fruit:-

1) 20-25 mm, subglobose, brick-red to yellowish-orange, orange-red or yellow.

2) Pyrenes, 1-3

Key features:-

1) Leaves, with 3(-5) subobtuse, lobes, entire.

2) Styles, 1-2

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Habitat:- Olive groves, vineyards, roadsides, hedges, rocky places in dry open

shrubby vegetation , on various substrates. 100-650 m.

Distribution:- Restricted distribution in the Aegean. - Widespread in the

Mediterranean region and SW Asia. On Crete scattered around the three main

massifs.

Flowering time:- Mar-May.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis