Scarlet hawthorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet hawthorn |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Crataegus
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| Species: |
coccinea
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List
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The scarlet hawthorn, known scientifically as Crataegus coccinea, is a type of hawthorn tree. For a long time, there was some confusion about its name. Scientists now agree that C. coccinea is the correct name for this plant. It was often mistakenly called C. pedicellata.
Understanding the Scarlet Hawthorn's Name
Scientists use special rules to name plants and animals. These rules help everyone know exactly which species they are talking about. The scarlet hawthorn's name has a bit of a tricky history.
Why the Name Was Confusing
For many years, people used the wrong name for the scarlet hawthorn. This happened because the first description of the plant by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 was not very clear. It was hard to tell which specific hawthorn he was describing.
Later, in 1901, a scientist named Charles Sprague Sargent tried to pick a "type specimen" for Crataegus coccinea. A type specimen is like a main example that helps define a species. However, Sargent chose a plant that was actually a different kind of hawthorn. He later realized his mistake and corrected it in 1909.
The Correct Name: Crataegus coccinea
Because of this confusion, for almost 100 years, most people called the scarlet hawthorn Crataegus pedicellata. But according to the rules of naming plants, the oldest correct name should be used.
In 2003, scientists finally confirmed that the plant Linnaeus described as Crataegus coccinea is the same one that was later called Crataegus pedicellata. This means Crataegus coccinea is the official and correct name for the scarlet hawthorn.
