Blackthorn

Botanical Name: Prunus spinosa

Family: Rosaceae

Other Names: La mere du bois, slae, sloe

Habitat: Woods, hedgerows, scrub

Description: Deciduous Thorny shrub or small tree up to 6m/20ft. Slate grey/black bark. Leaves appear in April after the flower -small & oblong to ovate with wedge shape base, alternate, finely toothed, up to 4cm. Sharp spines, orange wood. White flowers - February to April 5 white petals up to 8mm oblong-obovate, 5 green sepals Green berries in June Dark-blue berries around August. Ripe in October-November.0.9-1.5cm wide, greenish flesh with globose stone

Native to: Britain, Europe, and Asia

Harvesting: Flowers-April-May, fruit-October November

Actions: Anti-diarrhoeal, diuretic

Constituents: Coumarin derivatives, flavone-glycosides

Culinary Uses: Gin, jellies, wine

Other Uses: Walking sticks, dyes

Other Notes: Blackthorn staff = badge of wise woman or cunning man

Christian legend - the blackthorn blossoms on Christmas Eve

It is considered unlucky to bring the plant indoors

It is associated with witchcraft and especially blasting and cursing a person

It is believed a scratch from a thorn can cause blood poisoning