Crataegus aemula
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Crataegus aemula faces severe population decline due to habitat fragmentation from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in the southeastern United States. The species is particularly vulnerable to genetic bottlenecks given its small, isolated populations. Fire suppression has altered natural woodland dynamics, reducing suitable regeneration sites for this hawthorn species.
Habitat
Crataegus aemula inhabits open woodlands, forest edges, and prairie margins in the southeastern United States, typically growing in well-drained soils. The species prefers transitional zones between forested and grassland areas, often establishing in areas with periodic natural disturbance.
