The taxonomy of Crataegus species has historically been very confused, with over 1,200 different species recognized by some authors in the past. This number has been gradually and very significantly reduced, especially since the publication of several regional studies carried out since the late 1980’s, and current thinking is that the final number could be below 150 distinct species[]. Many of the genera that were included in this database prior to 2017 will now be treated as synonyms or subspecies, and it is likely that a number of other currently accepted species will also receive that fate once a complete revision of the genus (underway in 2015) has been published.

Common Name: Hungarian Hawthorn

General Information

Crataegus nigra is a thorny, deciduous tree, forming a rounded head of rather stiff branches; it can grow around 6 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.
Human activity has greatly reduced the forest habitat of this species - this activity includes industrialisation, forest clearance, forest management methods, development of plantations, declining groundwater levels, and grazing by wild animals (primarily deer). The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Eastern and central Europe - Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Romania

Habitat

Alluvial forests, forest edges, shrubland and sporadically in closed forest stands, though it does not thrive there. Forming small stands in flooded alluvial habitats along major waterways and edges of poplar, ash and oak forests[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Midges
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Crataegus nigra is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -20°c when fully dormant[].
A very easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained moisture retentive loamy soil but is not at all fussy[, ]. Once established, it succeeds in excessively moist soils and also tolerates drought[]. It grows well on a chalk soil and also in heavy clay soils[]. A position in full sun is best when plants are being grown for their fruit, they also succeed in semi-shade though fruit yields and quality will be lower in such a position[, ]. Most members of this genus succeed in exposed positions, they also tolerate atmospheric pollution[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
Many Crataegus species are very variable with regard to fruit size and quality. Seedlings, even if obtained from a good fruiting form, can often be disappointing - though they can also be an improvement on the original form. The most reliable way of obtaining a good fruiting form is by grafting from a known good tree, or obtaining a named cultivar from a reliable source[].
Seedling trees take from 5 - 8 years before they start bearing fruit, though grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year[].
The flowers have a foetid smell somewhat like decaying fish. This attracts midges which are the main means of fertilization. When freshly open, the flowers have more pleasant scent with balsamic undertones[].
Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A soft flesh[]. The fruit can be used in making pies, preserves, etc, and can also be dried for later use. The black, flattened globose fruit is up to 12mm in diameter[]. There are up to five fairly large seeds in the centre of the fruit, these often stick together and so the effect is of eating a cherry-like fruit with a single seed[].

Medicinal

Crataegus nigra is considered to be a medicinal and aromatic plant[]. It is used in traditional Serbian medicine in the same ways that Crataegus monogyne and Crataegus laevigata are used in Europe. These uses are as follows:-

Hawthorn is an extremely valuable medicinal herb. It is used mainly for treating disorders of the heart and circulation system, especially angina[]. Western herbalists consider it a 'food for the heart', it increases the blood flow to the heart muscles and restores normal heart beat[]. This effect is brought about by the presence of bioflavonoids in the fruit, these bioflavonoids are also strongly antioxidant, helping to prevent or reduce degeneration of the blood vessels[].
The fruit is antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic and vasodilator[, , , , ]. Both the fruits and flowers of hawthorns are well-known in herbal folk medicine as a heart tonic and modern research has borne out this use. The fruits and flowers have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic[]. They are especially indicated in the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure[], they are also used to treat a heart muscle weakened by age, for inflammation of the heart muscle, arteriosclerosis and for nervous heart problems[]. Prolonged use is necessary for the treatment to be efficacious[]. It is normally used either as a tea or a tincture[].

Agroforestry Uses:

This species is planted along water courses to repair embankments[].

Other Uses

The wood of Crataegus species is generally of good quality, though it is often of too small a size to be of much value. It usually has a red-brown heartwood with a thick band of lighter-coloured, usually pale sapwood. The wood is heavy, extremely hard, tough and close-grained. Where wood of suficient diameter is found it is often greatly prized for use in turnery, and has traditionally been used for purposes such as making tool handles, mallets and other small items[, ].

Propagation

Seed - this is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, some of the seed will germinate in the spring, though most will probably take another year. Stored seed can be very slow and erratic to germinate, it should be warm stratified for 3 months at 15°c and then cold stratified for another 3 months at 4°c[]. It may still take another 18 months to germinate[]. Scarifying the seed before stratifying it might reduce this time[]. Fermenting the seed for a few days in its own pulp may also speed up the germination process[]. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (as soon as the embryo has fully developed but before the seedcoat hardens) and sow it immediately in a cold frame. If timed well, it can germinate in the spring[]. If you are only growing small quantities of plants, it is best to pot up the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in individual pots for their first year, planting them out in late spring into nursery beds or their final positions. When growing larger quantities, it might be best to sow them directly outdoors in a seedbed, but with protection from mice and other seed-eating creatures. Grow them on in the seedbed until large enough to plant out, but undercut the roots if they are to be left undisturbed for more than two years.