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 'Climax' Prunus 'Climax' 'Climax' is a "Prunus" cultivar, considered to be a plum. It was introduced in 1899 by plant breeder Luther Burbank. Burbank devoted a lot of work to hybridizing two plum species, the apricot plum or Simon plum "Prunus simonii" and the Japanese plum "Prunus salicina". He developed a number of cultivars from the hybrid, of which 'Climax' was particularly notable for its importance to the fruit shipping industry of California. The 'Climax' tree is less productive than some other plum cultivars. The fruit is extremely large and heart-shaped, with yellow flesh that is sweet and very juicy. The