Shillelagh (club) Shillelagh (club) A shillelagh ( or ; , "thonged willow") or blackthorn stick is a wooden walking stick and club or cudgel, typically made from a stout knotty stick with a large knob at the top. It is associated with Ireland and Irish folklore. Shillelaghs are traditionally made from blackthorn (sloe) wood ("Prunus spinosa") or oak. Wood from the root was prized as it was less prone to crack or break during use. The wood would be smeared with butter or lard, and placed up a chimney to cure, giving the shillelagh its typical black shiny appearance. Another method was
Prunus subg. Padus "Padus" is polyphyletic and is therefore invalid as a genus, subgenus or anything else. In Finland and Sweden, the blooming of bird cherry ("Prunus padus", Finnish "tuomi") signifies the start of the summer for many people. In southern Finland, this normally takes place during the two last weeks of May or very early June. North Dakota State University agriculture information page about "Prunus virginiana" Prunus subg. Padus Prunus" subg. "Padus (bird cherries) is a subgenus of "Prunus", characterised by having deciduous leaves, flowers 12-30 together on slender racemes produced in late spring well after leaf emergence, and small, sour fruit