Prunus spinosa, L.

8. P. spinosa L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 475 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Dense shrub up to 4 m, spreading by suckers and with numerous, divaricate, intricate, spiny branches; bark blackish; young twigs usually pubescent. Leaves 2-4 cm, obovate to oblanceolate, finely crenate or serrate, cuneate at the base, dull green and glabrous above, usually pubescent on the veins beneath. Flowers mostly solitary, appearing before the leaves, very numerous; pedicel c. 5 mm, glabrous; petals 5-8 mm, white. Fruit 10-15 mm, globose, erect, bluishblack, very pruinose, acid and astringent; endocarp subglobose, smooth or slightly rugose. 2zz = 32. Europe, except the northeast and extreme north. All except Az Cr Fa Is Rs (N) Sb.

Natural hybrids between 8 and 10 b, with 2zz=40, have been recorded, and at least some of the plants that have been named P. fruticans Weihe , Flora (Regensb.) 9: 748 (1826), are hybrids of this parentage; but as the two parents are variable and rather similar, the morphological delimitation of the hybrid is almost impossible.