Blackthorn / Sloe - Prunus spinosa

Habitat

·        thickets

·        forest edge

·        a boundary thicket the so-called on the nutrient soils of pastures in frequent Europe, West Asia and North Africa

Habit and Form

·        1–4 m the deep grey branches of his tan growing tall end in pointed thorns.

·        Small-sized letters elliptical, lanced, their backhand usually downy.

Flowers

·        tiny

·        white

·        five-petalled and opens before the foliage springing.

Fruit

·        tiny,

·        bluish-black

·        velvety

·        drupaceous game fruit

·        It has them in a September

·        his flavour will be sweet mildly

Bark

·        Deep grey cracks later.

Medical Use

·        laxative

·        blood cleansing

·        gastralgia eczema

·        kidney and blister complaints

Active Substance:

amygdaline, tanner substance

Its flowers are collectable and are called and sold as pruni spinosae flos. Blackthorn flowers are used to speed up our metabolism, urination and cleaning the blood. The flower brew is a mild laxative; it lowers the fat amount in the human body. In addition it can be used for periodical cramps, different rashes, and kidney and bladder symptoms.

The brew can help with the footsore as a foot-bath. In this case, salt and ash are added to the flowers.

From the fruit, salad with lemon is made to cure kidney and bladder problems.

Although the blackthorn’s edible maturity growth looks appetizing, it is not suitable for eating because of its crusty taste. After the first frosts, fruit is collected and made into jam and fruit juice. It contains a lot of vitamin C and minerals.

Other uses

The taste of leaves is similar to Russian tea, so they can substitute it. 

Crusty fruit is used to make gin, while its wood is used to produce golf clubs.

Sponsors:

Ministry of National Resources

University of Szeged

KEFAG Zrt.

Future of Europe Association