That is what I was told when I used to pick sloes for sloe gin .but I have googled in : buckthorn is it poisonous? This is what came up first and this is what I clicked on.:
I'm sure you are right about Buckthorn, but nobody but you has mentioned Buckthorn. The thread is about sloes, etc. I don't think they can be mistaken for anything else.
Yes, do watch out for the blackthorns, they seem to fester if you get them in your hands.
Many sites feature warnings about the risk to animals if they ingest part of the plant of Alder Buckthorn and some American sites warn of a risk to people but as far as I can see the habit of these bushes is quite distinct.
The fruit of buckthorn is a small fleshy berry with a seed inside, not a 'stone fruit' or drupe like members of the prunus family, e.g. sloe, damson, plum etc
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
In all the years I have been looking at wild flowers in various parts of England and Wales, I have never seen an Alder Buckthorn, either in flower or in berry. Looking at the images though it would be hard to mix them up with Blackthorn (Sloe).
Sloes are produced very close to the branch, whereas buckthorn berries are on a stem. Sloes are usually larger and more oval than buckthorn berries. Sloes have a whitish bloom on the skin like blue/purple plums, whereas buckthorn berries are reddish-black and glossy. I could not possibly confuse the two. However, I've been gathering hedgerow fruits for many many years.
It goes without saying that if you don't know what you're doing seek on the spot help from someone who does or leave well alone.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I always notice in the spring where the blackthorn is because it is one of the first trees to flower a lovely white froth of flowers on bare branches. That is the only way I could differentiate them from hawthorn until the fruits form of course . So if it is in an area you are familiar with look out for it next year. When you have been foraging for a while you get to know where things are of course. I am fortunate in that my dad taught me all I know and I am still visiting the same sites I went to with him as a child
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That is what I was told when I used to pick sloes for sloe gin .but I have googled in : buckthorn is it poisonous? This is what came up first and this is what I clicked on.:
wildflowerfinder.org.uk/flowers/b/buckthorn(alder)
It says:the buckthorn is a shrub plant which bears black berries.the berries contain glycosides if eaten.
Known as glossy buckthorn ( t goes on to give a few other names)
Fruits of the buckthorn are berry like.black and small stoned fruits.
I feel that some of the members think I don't know what I'm on about or that I am scaremongering. But I AM NOT .
I was not sure, it was what I had been warned about 30 years ago.this is why I said some of the others may know .
But I had to check up myself just to be sure.
But I hope they are the sloes or the damsons they both make a worth waiting for drink.
Yes, do watch out for the blackthorns, they seem to fester if you get them in your hands.
I have been looking up Buckthorn our of interest and found this site. http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/buckth80.html#com.
Don't know if it is of help but found it interesting to browse through? plus another good site I found is
http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/wfs/wfsberries.htm
Many sites feature warnings about the risk to animals if they ingest part of the plant of Alder Buckthorn and some American sites warn of a risk to people but as far as I can see the habit of these bushes is quite distinct.
The fruit of buckthorn is a small fleshy berry with a seed inside, not a 'stone fruit' or drupe like members of the prunus family, e.g. sloe, damson, plum etc
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
In all the years I have been looking at wild flowers in various parts of England and Wales, I have never seen an Alder Buckthorn, either in flower or in berry. Looking at the images though it would be hard to mix them up with Blackthorn (Sloe).
Thanks Dove since checking up more between the two I see the fruits look to be arranged differently on the bush/tree, is this so ?
Sloes are produced very close to the branch, whereas buckthorn berries are on a stem. Sloes are usually larger and more oval than buckthorn berries. Sloes have a whitish bloom on the skin like blue/purple plums, whereas buckthorn berries are reddish-black and glossy. I could not possibly confuse the two. However, I've been gathering hedgerow fruits for many many years.
It goes without saying that if you don't know what you're doing seek on the spot help from someone who does or leave well alone.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I always notice in the spring where the blackthorn is because it is one of the first trees to flower a lovely white froth of flowers on bare branches. That is the only way I could differentiate them from hawthorn until the fruits form of course . So if it is in an area you are familiar with look out for it next year. When you have been foraging for a while you get to know where things are of course. I am fortunate in that my dad taught me all I know and I am still visiting the same sites I went to with him as a child
Enjoying the fruits of my labour with a little tipple before tea! Sloe gin rocks! Will defo be making it again next year.