Prunus spinosa
L. BlackthornDense deciduous shrub to c. 4 m high; branches spiny, divaricate; young twigs and shoots pubescent, dull. Leaves obovate to oblanceolate, mostly 2–4 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, base cuneate, apex obtuse to broadly acuminate, margins crenate or serrate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent above, usually pubescent on (at least) veins below; petiole 3–10 mm long. Flowers mostly solitary (sometimes 2 or 3) on short lateral shoots, appearing before the leaves; pedicels slender, glabrous. Sepals rounded, glabrous, margins glandular; petals obovate, white. Drupe globose, 10–15 mm diam., glabrous, bluish-black, pruinose, very sour; stone subglobose, smooth or slightly wrinkled.
VVP, GipP, HSF. Also naturalised Tas. Native through much of Europe. Noted as naturalised in Victoria along the Plenty River Gorge near Greensborough where abundant over several hectares. Probably more widespread but overlooked due to its similarity to Prunus cerasifera.
Jeanes, J.A.; Jobson, P.C. (1996). Rosaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 556–585. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning