Porosity: diffuse porous; however, growth rings are usually visible due to an absence of pores at annual boundaries
Arrangement: exclusively solitary
Vessels: small, very numerous
Parenchyma: no visible parenchyma at 10x magnification
Rays: narrow; close spacing
Lookalikes/Substitutes: Other European woods with similar density, color, and fine texture include rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), pear (Pyrus communis), and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).
Notes: The Crataegus genus is somewhat convoluted and confused, with over a thousand synonyms or varieties that are no longer recognized as valid. Separating different species of hawthorn generally cannot be done reliably using wood anatomy alone.