Alma-Ata hawthorn
Crataegus almaatensis
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 10 m tall. It usually has a single trunk but can have several stems. Young shoots have light brown bark but this becomes grey and cracked on older stems. There are only a few spines. The leaves are oval. Young leaves are hairy. The leaf stalk is 3 cm long. There are many flowers in a loose group. The flowers are 1-3 cm with and have white petals. The fruit are oval and become dark purple at maturity. They are 10-15 mm across. The flesh is juicy and purple-red. There are 3-5 stones in each fruit. Fruit are edible.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in Kazakhstan in valleys and along mountain slopes.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Central Asia, Kazakhstan
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten but the sugar content is low.
Edible parts
Fruit