Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

UK

Fruit

Black

Blackberry Biennial 1m width 3-4m Stems: woody, branched, prickly Leaves: dark green trifoliate prickly, toothed, red/purple in autumn. Flowers five petals pink or white May-September. Fruit comprises of drupelets turning green to red to black August-October

Broom Perennial, deciduous branched shrub up to 2m fairly straight, erect branches tall Leaves: lower leaves are alternate, trifoliate whilst higher leaves sessile Flowers: yellow May-June Fruit: elongated, hairy pods green-black

Buckthorn Perennial spiny deciduous shrub or small tree up to 8m Leaves alternate, opposite Flowers: Greenish groups of 2-8 May-June Fruit Black berries, globular 8-10mm September

Savin Evergreen coniferous shrub up to 4m, pale green bark, dark green, opposite leaves, purple/black berries Flowers: March-May

Blackthorn Deciduous Thorny shrub or small tree up to 6m/20ft. Slate grey/black bark. Leaves appear in April after the flower -small & oval, alternate, finely toothed. Sharp spines, orange wood. White flowers - February to April 5 white petals Green berries in June Dark-blue berries around August. Ripe in October-November. Called sloes

Broom Perennial, deciduous branched shrub up to 2m fairly straight, erect branches tall Leaves: lower leaves are alternate, trifoliate whilst higher leaves sessile Flowers: yellow May-June Fruit: elongated, hairy pods green-black

Red

Bryony white Perennial, climbing. Stems: weak, hairy arising from a perennial rootstock Root: like a turnip yellow/grey on the outside, white on the inside Flowers: green/white star shaped with five petals June-September. Fruit: red berries

Cuckoo pint 15-35cm/6-14in tall. Hairless, fleshy with long stalked untoothed arrow shaped dark green leaves often covered in dark blotches. Flower: chocolate brown spike enclosed in large pointed green hood. Spathe yellow/green April-May Fruit: red berries

Honeysuckle Woody climbing perennial up to 6m/20ft. Oval leaves. Flowers yellow/white, pink tinged. Tubular shaped followed by orange or red berries

Raspberry Slender perennial shrub up to 2m/6ft slightly spiny. Leaves toothed, oval often whitish beneath, stalked, pinnate, 3-5 leaflets up to 12cm. Leaflets ovate, acuminate, rounded at base, toothed margin Flowers small white in clusters Fruit red fruit berry formed by drupelets July – September

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