Crataegus azarolus Azarole
Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Crataegus [kra-TE-gus]
Gr. krataigos, believed to be derived from kratos, strength, alluding to the
hardness of the wood
Species
azarolus
Crataegus azarolus is a species of hawthorn known by the common names azarole,
azerole, and Mediterranean medlar. It is native to the Mediterranean Basin and is a
common plant there, growing on sites comparable to those the European common hawthorn
grows on. In the Arabic-speaking countries it is the commonest of the hawthorn species;
in the Arabic language the term "common hawthorn" means the azarole hawthorn. When
growing in the wild the azerole bears plentiful crops of haw fruits, which are similar
to the haws of the European common hawthorn, but plumper. C. azarolus is often divided
into subspecies or varieties, for example Christensen in his monograph uses four
varieties: * C. azarolus var. azarolus has orange fruit. * C. azarolus var. aronia L.,
has yellowish fruit often with some red tinges * C. azarolus var. chlorocarpa (Moris)
K.I.Chr. has yellowish fruit * C. azarolus var. pontica (K.Koch) K.I.Chr. has yellowish
or orange fruit C. azarolus has been used historically for a number of medicinal
purposes.