Prunus spinosa the British Army, blackthorn sticks are carried by commissioned officers of the Royal Irish Regiment; this is a tradition also in Irish regiments in some Commonwealth countries. The leaves resemble tea leaves, and were used as an adulterant of tea. Shlomo Yitzhaki, a Talmudist and Tanakh commentator of the High Middle Ages, writes that the sap (or gum) of "P. spinosa" (which he refers to as the ) was used as an ingredient in the making of some inks used for manuscripts. The fruit stones have been found in Swiss lake dwellings. Evidence of the early use of sloes by
Prunus japonica Prunus japonica Prunus japonica (also "Cerasus japonica"), also called Japanese bush cherry, or Oriental bush cherry, or Korean bush cherry is a shrub species in the genus "Prunus" that is widely cultivated for ornamental use. Its native range extends from Central China through to the Korean peninsula. "P. maximowiczii", the Miyama cherry is also often referred to as Japanese bush cherry. The shrub reaches 1.5 m by 1.5 m. Its flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by insects. The plant blossoms in May. Its fruit reaches about 14 mm and has an agreeably sweet flavor, therefore it is used in