Crataegus opaca Hook. & Arn.

A small tree. It has a reasonably tall trunk. The crown is rounded. The tree is 9 m high. The trunk is 20 cm across. The bark is dark reddish-brown and cracked and scaly. The leaves are 5-6 cm long and 1.2-2.5 cm wide. They are oval but narrow from the middle to the tip. There are fine teeth along the edge. The leaves are covered with grey hairs when young. They are dark green above and with rusty hairs underneath. The flowers are 2.5 cm wide and with 5 white petals. The fruit are 15 mm across and round and shiny red. They have pale dots. They are slightly sour and edible.

Deep depressions filled with water for most of the year, borders of swamps, low river banks etc. Seasonally inundated depressions, ditches, sink holes, relict interdune swales, streamsides; at elevations up to 100 metres.

The fruit are used for preserves and jellies.

Plants can be grown from seed. The seed need cold treatment. Plants can also be grafted.