View source for Prunus spinosa

:''Blackthorn redirects here; for other uses, see [[Blackthorn (disambiguation)]]''
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Prunus spinosa''
| image = Closeup of blackthorn aka sloe aka prunus spinosa sweden 20050924.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Prunoideae]]
| genus = ''[[Prunus]]''
| subgenus = ''[[plum|Prunus]]''
| sectio = ''Prunus''
| species = '''''P. spinosa'''''
| binomial = ''Prunus spinosa''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

'''''Prunus spinosa''''' ('''Blackthorn''') is a species of ''[[Prunus]]'' native to [[Europe]], western [[Asia]], and locally in northwest [[Africa]].<ref name=rushforth>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and Europe''. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.</ref><ref name=dvf>Den Virtuella Floran: [http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/rosa/prunu/prunspiv.jpg ''Prunus spinosa'' map]</ref>

[[Image:Schlehe1.jpg|thumb|left|Plant in flower in early spring]]
It is a [[deciduous]] large [[shrub]] or small [[tree]] growing to 5 m tall, with blackish bark and dense, stiff, spiny branches. The [[leaf|leaves]] are oval, 2–4.5 cm long and 1.2–2 cm broad, with a serrated margin. The [[flower]]s are 1.5 cm diameter, with five slightly creamy-white petals; they are produced shortly before the leaves in early spring, and are [[plant sexuality|hermaphroditic]] and [[insect]]-pollinated. The [[fruit]], called a "sloe" (''slae'', in the [[Scots language]]) is a [[drupe]] 10–12 mm diameter, black with a pale purple-blue waxy bloom, ripening in autumn; it is thin-fleshed, with a very strongly [[astringent]] flavour when fresh.<ref name=rushforth/>

It is frequently confused with the related ''[[Prunus cerasifera]]'', particularly in early spring when the latter starts flowering somewhat earlier than ''P. spinosa''. They may be distinguished by flower colour, creamy white in ''P. spinosa'', pure white in ''P. cerasifera''. They can also be distinguished in winter by the more shrubby habit with stiffer, wider-angled branches of ''P. spinosa'', and in summer by the relatively narrower leaves of ''P. spinosa'', more than twice as long as broad.<ref name=rushforth/><ref name=vedel>Vedel, H., & Lange, J. (1960). ''Trees and Bushes in Wood and Hedgerow''. Metheun & Co. Ltd., London.</ref>

===Ecology===
The foliage is sometimes eaten by the [[larva]]e of [[Lepidoptera]] including [[Pavonia pavonia|Emperor Moth]], [[Common Emerald]], [[November Moth]], [[Pale November Moth]], [[Mottled Pug]], [[Green Pug]], [[Brimstone Moth]], [[Feathered Thorn]], [[Brown-tail]], [[Yellow-tail]], [[Short-cloaked Moth]], [[Lesser Yellow Underwing]], [[Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing]], [[Double Square-spot]] and the [[Black Hairstreak|Black]] and [[Brown Hairstreak]]s.

===Cultivation and uses===
The fruit is similar to a small [[damson]] or [[plum]], suitable for preserves, but too tart and astringent for eating, unless deeply frozen, as is practiced in [[eastern Europe]]. In rural [[Great Britain|Britain]] so-called [[sloe gin]]<ref name=etymdict>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=sloe Online Etymology Dictionary]</ref> is made from them, though this is not a true [[gin]] but a [[liqueur]]. In [[Navarra]], [[Spain]], [[patxaran]] is a popular liqueur made with sloes. Sloes can also be made into [[jam]] and, if preserved in [[vinegar]], are similar in taste to [[Japan]]ese [[umeboshi]].

It is extensively planted for [[hedge (barrier)|hedging]] and for cover for game birds. The small thorns of the plant are relatively common causes of minor wounds in livestock, and these wounds often suppurate until the thorn is expelled or removed.

Straight blackthorn stems have traditionally been made into [[walking stick]]s, and in [[Ireland]] for making [[Shillelagh (weapon)|shillelagh]]s, a club-like weapon.

The species is locally [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] in [[New Zealand]] and eastern [[North America]].<ref name=dvf/>

A "sloe-thorn worm" used as fishing bait is mentioned in the 15th century work, ''The Treatyse of Fishing with an Angle'', by [[Juliana Berners]].<ref>[http://www.farreaches.org/compendium/treatise/onetreatise.html ''The Treatyse of Fishing with an Angle''] (attributed to Dame [[Juliana Berners]] in the [[15th century]])</ref>

The expression "sloe-eyed" for a person with dark eyes comes from the fruit<ref name=etymdict/>, and is first attested in [[Augusta Jane Evans|A.J.Wilson]]'s 1867 novel ''Vashti''.<ref>''Oxford English Dictionary''</ref>

==References==
{{Commons|Prunus spinosa}}
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Prunus]]
[[Category:Fruit]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]

[[frp:Belociér]]
[[ast:Prunus spinosa]]
[[ca:Aranyoner]]
[[cs:Trnka obecná]]
[[da:Slåen]]
[[de:Schlehdorn]]
[[es:Prunus spinosa]]
[[fr:Prunellier]]
[[fur:Sespâr]]
[[gl:Abruñeiro]]
[[hy:Մամուխ]]
[[hsb:Dorničel]]
[[it:Prunus spinosa]]
[[li:Sjlièkreek]]
[[hu:Kökény]]
[[ja:スピノサスモモ]]
[[nl:Sleedoorn]]
[[no:Slåpetorn]]
[[pl:Śliwa tarnina]]
[[ru:Тёрн]]
[[fi:Oratuomi]]
[[sv:Slån]]
[[uk:Терен]]
[[wa:Purnale]]