HAWTHORN 179 



Cecidomyia crat&gL The fungi Polystigma rubrum, Tympanis con- 

 spersa, Phleospora oxyacantha infest it. 



The insects Leopard Moth (Zeiizera cesculi}, Penthina pniniana, 

 Priobium castaneum, Otiorhynchiis picipes, Trichiosoma tibialis, Pul- 

 vinaria vitis, Mytilaspis pomorum, Lecanium caprece, Aphis cratcegi, 

 Psylla crat&gi feed on the Hawthorn. 



Crat&gus, Theophrastus, is the Greek name of the plant. Oxya- 

 cantha, Dioscorides, is from oxys, sharp, acanthos, thorn, and Hawthorn 

 means hedgethorn. 



It is called Agald, Agarves, Aggie, Albespyne, Aglet, Aubepyne, 

 Azzy-tree, Bird Eagles, Birds' Meat, Bread-and-Cheese, Bulls, Butter- 

 and- Bread, Chaws, Cheese and Bread, Chucky- cheese, Cuckoo's 

 Beads, Cuckoo's Bread-and-Cheese, Eglet, Eglet Bloom, Glaston- 

 bury Thorn, God's Meat, Greens, Haa, Hagga, Haggils, Hagthorn, 

 Hagues, Halves, Harsy, Harve, Hathorn, Hawberry, Haws, Haw- 

 bus, Hawen, Haw-gaws, Bull-haws, Butter and Cat Haws, Hawses, 

 Hawthorn, Haw-tree, Haythorn, Hazel, Hazzy Tree, Hedge-thorn, 

 Hipperty Haws, Hog-arves, Hogberry, Hog-gazels, Howes, Johny 

 Macgorey, May, May Bush, Pegy at Bush, Pigall, Pig Haw, Pig's 

 Hales, Pixie Pears, Quick, Quickset, Quickwood, Sates, Thorn, Thorn- 

 berries, Whicks, White Thorn, Wick, Wickens. 



The planted thorns are called Quicks to distinguish them from rails 

 and dead fences. Quickset means a hedge set with quicks, and so 

 does Quickwood. Albespyne is from alba spina, meaning white thorn. 

 " And there the Jewes maden him a crowne of the branches of albe- 

 spyne, that is white thorn." The name Bread-and-Cheese is given 

 because the young shoots are eaten in spring by children. The name 

 Glastonbury Thorn refers to the variety supposed to have sprung up 

 at Glastonbury from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea which produces 

 its blossoms on Christmas Day. It is called May because it usually 

 flowers (in England) during that month. 



Lonely thorns in fields that do not grow larger are said to be 

 bewitched, and they must not be approached at night. A fiery wheel 

 comes from the bush which will destroy you if it comes near you. It 

 was said to be sprung from lightning. It is widely revered and 

 associated with marriage rites. The bride was decked with May 

 blossom in Greece. Torches lighting the bridal couple to the nuptial 

 chamber were made of it. It is supposed to have formed the Crown 

 of Thorns. 



In Ireland it is unlucky to cut it down, as the fairies there protect 

 it. To gather leaves of the tree is considered unsafe. But to burn it 



