Habitat
Type: scrub, woods, hedges
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere

General
Growth type: tree
Cycle: deciduous
Height: up to 4 meters
Other: tangled branches

Leaf
Shape: pointed oval
Arrangement: alternate
Edge: finely toothed
Other: small

Trunk
Colour: dark brown
Texture: large spines throughout

Flower
Diameter: 10 mm
Arrangement: on spines
When: before leaves
Colour:

Fruit
Shape: round
Colour: blue-black
Size: up to 15 mm
Other: called "sloe", bloom on young fruit

The leaves, bark, flowers and seeds contain or produce hydrogen cyanide in contact with water. Hydrogen cyanide, also known as Prussic acid, may be safe in very small quantities. May be driven off by heat. Very bitter with smell of almonds. Consume in moderation.

Spines may cause septic wounds.

from May
all year
April and May
September and October

Parts with black and white icons are for non-culinary use

Flavour
Rating and Description:
very astringent and acid; better after frost or when made into jelly, syrup or for flavouring spirits

How to Consume
raw, jelly, syrup, flavouring spirits

Special preparation
for flavouring spirits prick the fruit; see the "fruit" section on the Parts page for instructions on making syrup.

Used as ...
food, flavouring

Action:
aperient, astringent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative, stomachic

May treat:
cystitis, gout, rheumatism
diarrhoea

green dye
(trunk) timber: hard, for turnery, carving etc., bark: tannin, yellow dye (boiled in alkali)
dark grey to green dye; unripe juice: laundry marking (almost indelible)

Collection
best picked after first frost

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Parts with black and white icons in the availability section are for non-culinary use

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• aperient: mild laxative
• astringent: causes localised contraction of blood vessels and tissue, reducing the flow of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• depurative: eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood
• diaphoretic: promotes perspiration, aids the skin in elimination of toxins
• diuretic: increases secretion and elimination of urine
• febrifuge: reduces fever; use only for dangerously high temperature; a raised temperature is the body's way of burning up the pathogen
• laxative: evacuates the bowels or softens stools
• stomachic: treats stomach disorders