Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa, called blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. It is native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand, Tasmania and eastern North America. "Prunus spinosa" is a large deciduous shrub or small tree growing to tall, with blackish bark and dense, stiff, spiny branches. The leaves are oval, long and broad, with a serrated margin. The flowers are about in diameter, with five creamy-white petals; they are produced shortly before the leaves in early spring, and are hermaphroditic and
Aralia spinosa fruit. The fruit was used in many of the natives' foods. The women would take the flowers and put them in their hair because of the lemony smell. The flowers could also be traded for money. In the past, botanists attributed occurrences of "Aralia" north of Maryland and Delaware in the Middle Atlantic states to introductions of "Aralia spinosa" from areas to the south. However some of these occurrences are now known to be of "Aralia elata" (Japanese Angelica-tree), a related Asian species that is invasive in the area. "A. spinosa" and "A. elata" are difficult to distinguish in the