Does anyone know this thorn?

[Lancstree]

I've got this growing in profusion in the field at the rear of my house and I can't nail an ID.

 

The thorns are absent on the juvenile growth and it grows in long sticks, getting around 6 foot now. My photo skills aren't up to scratch but at the base of the leaf there are two little nodules. All the leaves are half eaten so I couldn't get a good one to photo.

 

The thorns are at the end of the twigs on the older growth

[janey]

Sloe?

 

That's not an insult

[Matthew Arnold]

Prunus spinosa Blackthorn aka Sloe bush

[Lancstree]

I think you may be right. I suspected that before but what threw me off the scent was its growth habit, as I've only ever seen it as a hedge or single tree

[Chris Gagen]

suckers of blackthorn will come up like mad from neighbouring plants. have you been prickled by one yet? if it's very quick to go mildly septic then likely to be blackthorn. brilliant firewood:sneaky2:

[Lancstree]

Not been pricked yet so will be careful. Have yet to notice berries on it and I've been here over two years. I think there was a larger tree here which would explain the abundance of suckers just in this small area of the field. This adds to my free food though so I'm happy with that

[geoff]

Get the berries ripe and plop them in a bottle of gin with a few raisons,a good dose of honey, a few crumbs of cinamon,leave it in a dark place for a few mounths and drink it (after banging it through a filter).

 

You will never be the same after!

[Lorry thompson]

Sounds a canny recipe Geoff I've only had it made with gin and brown sugar

[geoff]

Sounds a canny recipe Geoff I've only had it made with gin and brown sugar

 

Give it a go Lorry,if you dont like it I can give a you a guarantee that it will shut the mother in law up at christmass!

[Lorry thompson]

Haha itl take more than sloe gin mate! I've thought of trying a bit cinnamon before and the honey instead of sugar sounds good plus the raisins I think it's a winner mate I've just got to remember to pick the berries this year.