Crataegus orientalis
# Crataegus orientalis

Crataegus orientalis, known as oriental hawthorn, is a species of hawthorn native to the Mediterranean region, Turkey, Caucasia, Crimea, and western Iran, with fruits that are orange or various shades of red.

This species is highly variable. Knud Ib Christensen in his monograph divides it into four subspecies:

* C. orientalis subsp. orientalis
* C. orientalis subsp. pojarkovae (Kossych) Byatt has orange fruit.
* C. orientalis subsp. presliana K.I.Chr.
* C. orientalis subsp. szovitsii (Pojarkova) K.I.Chr.

## Uses

### Culinary uses

In Caucasia the fruits are either eaten raw or used to make a type of sweet bread.

