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Mayhaw is the name given to the fruit of the species of Crataegus series Aestivales[2] that are common in wetlands throughout the southern United States. The principal species are C. aestivalis, the eastern mayhaw, and C. opaca, the western mayhaw.[2]
| Mayhaw | |
|---|---|
| |
| Crataegus opaca | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Crataegus |
| Section: | Crataegus sect. Coccineae |
| Series: | Crataegus ser. Aestivales (Sarg. ex C.K.Schneid.) Rehder |
| Species | |
| |
Mayhaws grow in moist soil in river and creek bottoms under hardwood trees. The fruit is also found in bayous surrounding lakes, such as Caddo Lake on the Texas/Louisiana border. The fruit ripens in late April through May, thus the name may-haw. Mayhaws are often collected out of the water from boats, and the fruit is used to make jelly.
Families would go on outings to collect mayhaws and create stockpiles of the jelly to last throughout the year, but the tradition has declined with the increasing urbanization of the South and the destruction of the mayhaw's native habitat. The fruit has also been cultivated to grow outside of wetlands, and this is increasingly the source of the jelly.
In culture
editMany communities associate themselves with the fruit because of its reputation as a celebrated delicacy of Southern U.S. cuisine. For example, Colquitt, Georgia, holds a mayhaw festival in April. Daisetta, Texas; El Dorado, Arkansas; Marion, Louisiana; and Starks, Louisiana, all celebrate a mayhaw festival each May.
The mayhaw is the state fruit tree of Louisiana.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c Phipps, J.B. (2015), "Crataegus Linnaeus (sect. Coccineae) ser. Aestivales (Sargent) Rehder, Man. Cult. Trees ed. 2. 366. 1940", in L. Brouillet; K. Gandhi; C.L. Howard; H. Jeude; R.W. Kiger; J.B. Phipps; A.C. Pryor; H.H. Schmidt; J.L. Strother; J.L. Zarucchi (eds.), Flora of North America North of Mexico, vol. 9: Magnoliophyta: Picramniaceae to Rosaceae, New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b Phipps, J.B.; O’Kennon, R.J.; Lance, R.W. 2003. Hawthorns and medlars. Royal Horticultural Society, Cambridge, U.K.
- ^ "RS 49:160.1". Louisiana Revised Statutes. Louisiana State Legislature. 2014.
External links
edit- "National Center for Home Food Preservation - Mayhaw Jelly Mayhaw Jelly". nchfp.uga.edu.
- "Texas Mayhaws, from Texas A&M University". Archived from the original on 1999-02-20. Retrieved 2004-01-23.
- "The Official Daisetta, Texas Mayhaw Festival Website". Archived from the original on 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- Association, Louisiana Mayhaw. "Louisiana Mayhaw Association". Louisiana Mayhaw Association.