The hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) fruits

The hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow up to 8 metres tall. It is often used as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens and in hedges around agricultural fields. Its flowers are importante for pollinators insects and the fruits are important source of food for birds and small mammals which, during the autumn increase their calorie intake to prepare for winter, when there is less food available. In turn, these animals play an important role in the dispersal of these plant species. By digesting their fruits, they help to break the seeds' dormancy, allowing them to germinate the following spring. In addition, they release these seed in their droppings wherever they go.