Contractions. - Prun-s. Pru.

Prunus communis. Nat. ord., Rosaceae.

Synonym. - Prunus instititia.

Fig. - Engl. Bot., t. 842.

Blackthorn, Sloe. For. names: German, Schlehdorn, Schwartzdorn; French, Prunellier, Epine noire.

Habitat. - Hedges, thickets and open woods, in Europe, and Russian and Central Asia. Abundant in Britain.

Flowering time. - Early spring.

Parts employed. - The flowers.

Characters. - A much-branched shrub, smaller branches often terminating in a stout thorn. Leaves ovate or oblong, stalked, finely toothed; usually glabrous, but under-side occasionally downy. Flowers small, white, nearly sessile.

Time for collecting. - When flowering commences.

Preparation. - Tincture, corresponding in alcoholic strength with proof spirit.

Reference to Horn. Proving. - Arch., xiv.

Proper forms for dispensing. - φ and lx, Tincture only. 1 and upwards, Tincture, Pilules, or Globules.