Prunus spinosa Britain, and in Germany and other central European countries. Sloes can also be made into jam, chutney, and used in fruit pies. Sloes preserved in vinegar are similar in taste to Japanese "umeboshi". The juice of the fruits dyes linen a reddish colour that washes out to a durable pale blue. Blackthorn makes an excellent fire wood that burns slowly with a good heat and little smoke. The wood takes a fine polish and is used for tool handles and canes. Straight blackthorn stems have traditionally been made into walking sticks or clubs (known in Ireland as a shillelagh). In
Prunus microcarpa Prunus microcarpa Prunus microcarpa (small-fruited cherry, Arabic name: كرز صغير الثمر ) is a species of "Prunus" native to Western Asia and the Caucasus. "Prunus microcarpa" is a deciduous bushy shrub with rigid branchlets. Its glabrous leaves are ovate to elliptic. "Prunus microcarpa" produces white to pale pink hermaphrodite flowers in April. The flowers are solitary or in pairs and are 1 cm across. Its 1 cm-long fruit is ovoid and turns yellow to orange, red or black when ripe and may be toxic if consumed excessively. The shrub's fruit can be used to obtain a dark grey to green