either of two spring-blooming wild flowers native to eastern North America, or one of several plants that bloom in the spring in Europe. Podophyllum peltatum (family Berberidaceae) is more often called mayapple, and Epigaea repens (family Ericaceae) is the trailing arbutus. Crataegus monogyna (family Rosaceae), a species of hawthorn, is commonly known as mayflower or May flower in England.