Prunus spinosa, called blackthorn or sloe, is an Old World species of flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae.

Prunus spinosa is a large deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 5 metres (16 feet) tall, with blackish bark and dense, stiff, spiny branches.

The flowers are about 1.5 cm (1⁄2 in) in diameter, with five creamy-white petals; they are produced shortly before the leaves in early spring,[3] and are hermaphroditic, and insect-pollinated.

The fruit, called a "sloe", is a drupe 10–12 millimetres (3⁄8–1⁄2 in) in diameter, black with a purple-blue waxy bloom, ripening in autumn and traditionally harvested – at least in the UK – in October or November, after the first frosts.

[11] The specific name spinosa is a Latin term indicating the pointed and thornlike spur shoots characteristic of this species.

[citation needed] The shrub, with its long, sharp thorns, is traditionally used in Britain and other parts of northern Europe to make a cattle-proof hedge.

[16] The fruit is similar to a small damson or plum, suitable for preserves, but rather tart and astringent for eating fresh unless it is picked after the first few days of autumn frost.

[21] Similarly, in Northern Greece, they make a blackthorn liqueur by infusing tsipouro with the fruit and adding sugar.

[citation needed] In France a liqueur called troussepinette, or just épine or épinette, is made from the young shoots in spring (rather than from fruits in autumn).

[citation needed] (Vin d'épine, likewise, is an infusion of early shoots of blackthorn macerated with sugar in wine.

[citation needed] Rashi, a Talmudist and Tanakh commentator of the High Middle Ages, writes that the sap (or gum) of P. spinosa (which he refers to as the prunellier) was used as an ingredient in the making of some inks used for manuscripts.