Definition

Noun A species of hawthorn native to the southern United States, characterized by leaves that are pinnately lobed (divided into leaflets arranged on either side of a central stem).

Usage Notes

• This is a scientific or botanical term. It is primarily used in formal contexts such as botany, horticulture, ecology, and field guides.
• The word is a proper noun (the scientific name of a species) and is typically written in italics in academic texts: .
• It refers specifically to a type of small tree or shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae).

Examples

• The botanist identified the thorny shrub as Crataegus marshallii.
• Crataegus marshallii is noted for its attractive white spring flowers and bright red fruit.
• Several native pollinators depend on the flowers of Crataegus marshallii.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic classification, is the genus name, and is the specific epithet, often honoring a person (in this case, likely the botanist Humphry Marshall).

Variants and Related Words

• Parsley haw (or Parsley-leaved hawthorn): A common name for this species, derived from the finely divided, parsley-like appearance of its leaves.
• Hawthorn: The common name for plants in the genus .
• Crataegus apiifolia: A synonym or a very closely related species, sometimes considered the same.

Synonyms

• Parsley haw
• Parsley-leaved hawthorn

Different Meanings

This term has only one specific meaning: it is the scientific binomial name for a particular species of hawthorn plant. It does not have idiomatic or figurative meanings.

Noun

1. southern United States hawthorn with pinnately lobed leaves