The hawthorn is a southern European-Eurasian shrub present in all regions of Italy. It is one of the main constituents of open woods and hedges, and appears in all stages of the dynamics of woody vegetation, on calcareous to weakly acidic soils, being able to root also in the fissures of the rocks, albeit with shrunken and deformed specimens, from sea level to the lower montane belt, with optimum in the sub-Mediterranean belt. The species is found in the outer belt of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with mesophilic scrub vegetation. It is often used as an ornamental plant for hedges and gardens, being valued for its prolonged and fragrant flowering, and also for the bright red colour of the fruit, which persists on the plant for a long time. The leaves and fruits, which are edible but not very tasty, have medicinal properties. The genus name derives from the Greek 'kratos' (power) and is the ancient common name of the plant, the species names comes from the Greek 'monos' (single) and 'gyne' (female), referring to the fruit with a single seed. Flowering period: April to May.

Italian name(s): Azaruolo comune (Italia), Biancospino comune (Italia), Buslei (Lombardia, Pavia), Calaprice (Puglia, Lecce), Calavrice (Puglia, Lecce), Cratego monogyna (Italia), Pappa di volpe (Lombardia, Valtellina), Scarapuccio (Puglia, Barletta), Zisima sarvaggia (Sicilia, Etna).