Blackthorn

This deciduous shrub flowers from late February to early March to April (5).The flowers are pollinated by a range of insects (2). In addition to flavouring gin, sloes are used in jellies, conserves and syrups and were made to make sloe wine, an alternative to port (5)(4). They have also been put to various uses in folk-medicine (6). The flowers are edible and the leaves have been dried and used as a substitute for tea (6). Furthermore, dyes have been obtained form the fruits, leaves and bark (5). The wood of blackthorn is extremely hard and is highly valued for making walking sticks as it shows interesting patterns and knot-holes (4).

Conservation action is not required for this species at present.

Blackthorn is a deciduous shrub that has long been popular in hedgerows because of its thorns (4). The beautiful white blossom tends to appear early in the year before the leaves, often in a very cold period following a false spring. These cold snaps are widely known as 'blackthorn winters' (4). Blackthorn is related to the plums. The bitter fruits it produces are known as sloes, and are used to make sloe gin (4). They are bluish-black in colour and often have a whitish bloom. The flesh is green and there is a single stone inside (2).

Typical habitats include hedgerows, woodlands, scrub, cliff slopes and screes. On shingle beaches a prostrate form of blackthorn may occur (3). This shrub can tolerate a wide range of soil types, but cannot survive in deep shade (2).

Widespread in Britain southwards of Sutherland and Caithness and reaching altitudes of up to 415m in Yorkshire (2). Elsewhere, this shrub is found in Europe with the exceptions of the far north and north-east, and extends as far east as Iran. It also occurs in south-western Siberia (2).

Not threatened (3).

This shrub is not threatened.

Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Acrogenospora anamorph of Acrogenospora sphaerocephala is saprobic on rotten wood of Prunus spinosa

Plant / associate
Anthocoris gallarum-ulmi is associated with aphid-galled leaf of Prunus spinosa

Plant / associate
Anthonomus rufus is associated with Prunus spinosa

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Auricularia auricula-judae is saprobic on wood of Prunus spinosa

Plant / associate
Cardiastethus fasciiventris is associated with lichen-covered Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Plant / associate
subiculate perithecium of Chaetosphaerella phaeostroma is associated with fungus infected, fallen branch of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 9-4

Foodplant / saprobe
perithecium of Chaetosphaeria myriocarpa is saprobic on fallen, dead branch of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 1-12

Plant / resting place / on
adult of Cryptocephalus bipunctatus may be found on Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 4-late 8

Foodplant / saprobe
conidioma of Foveostroma coelomycetous anamorph of Dermea padi is saprobic on dead twig of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent pycnidium of Foveostroma coelomycetous anamorph of Dermea prunastri is saprobic on dead twig of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / parasite
Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Diaporthe perniciosa parasitises live branch of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Dichomitus efibulatus is saprobic on dead, white-rotten wood of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
resupinate fruitbody of Eichleriella deglubens is saprobic on fallen branch of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
stroma of Encoelia fimbriata is saprobic on dead wood of Prunus spinosa
Other: minor host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent apothecium of Encoelia fuckelii is saprobic on dead branch of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 4

Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Endophragmiella anamorph of Endophragmiella boothii is saprobic on dead wood of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 10-4

Foodplant / saprobe
immersed perithecium of Endoxyla cirrhosa is saprobic on rotten wood of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: good condition: 4-5

Foodplant / parasite
fruitbody of Entoloma clypeatum parasitises live root of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 4-6
Other: minor host/prey

Foodplant / gall
Eriophyes similis causes gall of leaf of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / parasite
cleistothecium of Erysiphe prunastri parasitises Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / open feeder
colonial, tented caterpillar of Euproctis chrysorrhoea grazes on live leaf of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 8-7

Foodplant / saprobe
stromatic, immersed perithecium of Eutypa flavovirens is saprobic on dead wood of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 1-12

Foodplant / saprobe
stromatic, densely crowded perithecium of Eutypella prunastri is saprobic on dead, often attached branch of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 4-5

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Exidiopsis calcea is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Ganoderma australe is saprobic on dead trunk of Prunus spinosa

Plant / resting place / within
ovum of Hoplocampa chrysorrhoea may be found in ovary of Prunus spinosa

Plant / resting place / within
ovum of Hoplocampa flava may be found in ovary of Prunus spinosa

Plant / resting place / within
ovum of Hoplocampa rutilicornis may be found in ovary of Prunus spinosa
Other: sole host/prey

Plant / associate
fruitbody of Hygrocybe chlorophana is associated with Prunus spinosa
Other: minor host/prey

Plant / associate
fruitbody of Hypocreopsis rhododendri is associated with live branch of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
Geniculosporium anamorph of Hypoxylon howeanum is saprobic on dead branch of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 1-4
Other: minor host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
hysterothecium of Hysterium angustatum is saprobic on dead, decorticate branch of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 3-5

Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Monodictys dematiaceous anamorph of Monodictys putredinis is saprobic on rotten wood of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / open feeder
social larva of Nematus lucidus grazes on leaf of Prunus spinosa

Plant / associate
perithecium of Nitschkia collapsa is associated with fungus-infested Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 8-3

Foodplant / saprobe
perithecium of Nitschkia cupularis is saprobic on dead, decorticate branch of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 10-4

Foodplant / feeds on
Orthotylus marginalis feeds on Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
Diplodia coelomycetous anamorph of Otthia spiraeae is saprobic on dead branch of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 11-4

Plant / resting place / on
adult of Oulema obscura may be found on Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 7-

Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pareophora pruni grazes on leaf of Prunus spinosa
Other: sole host/prey

Fungus / saprobe
fruitbody of Perenniporia ochroleuca is saprobic on dead, fallen twig of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
sessile apothecium of Pezizella leucostigma is saprobic on branch of Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phellinus pomaceus is saprobic on dead Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phlebiopsis ravenelii is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Prunus spinosa
Other: minor host/prey

Foodplant / sap sucker
Phorodon humuli sucks sap of live shoot of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 3-6, autumn

Foodplant / feeds on
Phyllobius oblongus feeds on Prunus spinosa

Plant / associate
Physatocheila dumetorum is associated with lichen-covered branch of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / parasite
evanescent, mainly hypophyllous conidial anamorph of Podosphaera tridactyla parasitises live leaf of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
stromatic, immersed perithecium of Polystigma rubrum is saprobic on dead, fallen, overwintered leaf of Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / open feeder
solitary larva of Pristiphora biscalis grazes on leaf of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Pristiphora monogyniae feeds on Prunus spinosa
Other: sole host/prey

Foodplant / sap sucker
Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae sucks sap of live Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: winter
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Rhynchites aequatus feeds within fruit of Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Rhynchites auratus feeds within fruit kernel of Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Rhynchites caeruleus feeds within decaying shoot of Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Rhynchites pauxillus feeds within leaf (midrib) of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Serendipita vermifera is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Skeletocutis nivea is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed stick of Prunus spinosa
Other: minor host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Stypella subhyalina is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Prunus spinosa
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / pathogen
infection of Taphrina pruni infects and damages live, distorted, stunted, swollen, pale yellow tinged red shoot of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / spot causer
hypophyllous uredium of Tranzschelia discolor causes spots on live leaf of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 7-9
Other: uncertain

Foodplant / parasite
telium of Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae parasitises live leaf of Prunus spinosa
Remarks: season: 7-9

Foodplant / saprobe
stromatic, valsoid perithecium of Valsaria cincta is saprobic on dead stem of Prunus spinosa

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Vuilleminia comedens is saprobic on dead, decorticate, attached branch of Prunus spinosa
Other: unusual host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Vuilleminia cystidiata is saprobic on dead, decorticate, attached branch of Prunus spinosa
Other: unusual host/prey

This species is cultivated for its edible fruit and as grafting stock for other species of Prunoideae.

Shrubs, rarely trees, 4–8 m tall. Branches reddish brown, robust, glabrous, spiny; branchlets reddish brown, densely pubescent. Winter buds purplish red, pubescent. Stipules lanceolate, margin glandular, apex acuminate. Petiole 5–7 mm, pubescent, without nectaries; leaf blade oblong-obovate, elliptic-ovate, or rarely oblong, 2–4 × 0.8–1.8 cm, abaxially yellowish green and pubescent, adaxially dark green and sparsely appressed pubescent, glabrescent, base subrounded to broadly cuneate, margin crenate or sometimes doubly crenate, apex acute to obtuse; secondary veins 4 or 5(–8) on either side of midvein. Flowers solitary, opening before leaves, 1–1.5 cm in diam. Pedicel 6–8(–15) mm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Hypanthium outside glabrous. Sepals triangular-ovate, outside glabrous, margin serrulate, apex acute. Petals white with pale purple veins, oblong, base cuneate, apex obtuse. Stamens 20–25. Ovary glabrous. Stigma capitate. Drupe black, globose, broadly ellipsoid, or conical, 1–1.5 cm in diam., glabrous, glaucous; mesocarp green; endocarp brown, ovoid to ellipsoid, ± flattened, rugose. Fl. Apr, fr. Aug.

Cultivated throughout China [native to N Africa, SW Asia, and Europe].

Prunus domestica Linnaeus var. spinosa (Linnaeus) Kuntze.