Crataegus monogyna

1 9.9

A small tree or large shrub with thorny branches and red fruit often used for hedges

noun

Specialized

: Crataegus monogyna

Many old English hedgerows are composed of Crataegus monogyna for its dense, thorny branches.

Examples

The Crataegus monogyna in the garden produces a profusion of red fruit each autumn.
I planted a Crataegus monogyna in my garden.
Biologists noted the spread of Crataegus monogyna as an introduced species in several North American states.
The Crataegus monogyna is often used in landscaping.
The Crataegus monogyna is known for its bright red fruit, which attracts many birds in the autumn.
In Europe, Crataegus monogyna is commonly used to create dense hedges due to its thorny branches.
Gardeners appreciate the Crataegus monogyna for its deeply lobed leaves and vibrant flowers in spring.

Surface Forms

Crataegus monogyna singular

Crataegi monogynae plural

Morphology

Crataegus + monogyna

This is a binomial scientific name: knowing 'Crataegus' (a genus of shrubs) lets a learner infer this is a particular species of that genus, so part of the meaning (a species of hawthorn) is compositional. However the Latin epithet 'monogyna' is not a familiar English word and does not convey the specific horticultural traits to a B1 learner, so the meaning is only partly predictable.

Etymology

Crataegus monogyna comes from ancient Greek and Latin words: Crataegus means 'strength' because the wood is very hard, and monogyna means 'one seed' as the flowers usually make fruit with a single seed. So the name points to the hawthorn's tough wood and its usually single-seeded fruit.