Prunus spinosa of the fruit caused by the fungus "Taphrina pruni" produces an elongated and flattened gall, devoid of a stone. The shrub, with its savage thorns, is traditionally used in Britain and other parts of northern Europe to make a "cattle-proof" hedge. The fruit is similar to a small damson or plum, suitable for preserves, but rather and for eating, unless it is picked after the first few days of autumn frost. This effect can be reproduced by freezing harvested sloes. The juice is used in the manufacture of fake port wine, and used as an to impart roughness to genuine
Prunus sibirica Prunus sibirica Prunus sibirica, called Siberian apricot (), is a species of shrub or small tree native to eastern China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and eastern Siberia. It is in the genus "Prunus" in the rose family, Rosaceae, one of several species whose fruit are called apricot, although this species is rarely cultivated for its fruit. The species was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The species is highly genetically diverse. It grows in the form of a small tree with spreading branches and reaches a height of . It is very frost resistant and can survive temperatures down to .