...whether it is a native tree species of ours or perhaps one brought from Scandinavia in the times of the Vikings. Since in the wild it is found only in the vicinity of Vērgale, while elsewhere – mostly in plantings – there are various varieties of the midland hawthorn, the most common being “Paul’s Scarlet” with bright dark-red double flowers. The Viking theory is quite plausible because, more than a thousand years ago, when setting out on long sea voyages, one had to take food supplies along, and hawthorn fruits, just like those of rowan and wild rose, were an excellent source of vitamins—the simplest way to combat scurvy, the greatest misfortune of all seafarers. As the germination capacity of seeds in dried fruits can remain for a very long time, anything is possible.