blackthorn
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blackthorn
blackthorn
Blackthorn
(Prunus spinosa), a plant of the family Rosaceae. The blackthorn is a small shrub or, rarely, a small tree reaching a height of 4–8 m. The branches are thorny, and the leaves are elliptic or obovate. The flowers, which are small and white, bloom in April and May. The fruit is a single-stoned drupe with a waxy bloom; most often it is rounded, small, and blue-black.
The wild blackthorn grows in Asia Minor, Western Europe, the Mediterranean region, the European USSR, the Caucasus, and Western Siberia. The tart, late-maturing fruits contain 5.5–8.8 percent sugar (glucose and fructose) and 0.8–2.8 percent acids. They are eaten in dried form or made into wine or jam. The blackthorn is winter-hardy and drought resistant. A large-fruited variety, obtained by crossing the blackthorn with the common plum (P. domestica), is widely cultivated in the Volga region.