What type of tree is this? and is it poisonous?

[yaffsimone1]

As the title.

My mare has taken a liking for this tree. Does anyone have any ideas what it is? I thought Sloe but the leaves seem to be the wrong shape.

 

[Slightly Foxed]

Looks like blackthorn (sloe berries).
If it is, it's not poisonous.

 

[Goldenstar]

Looks like blackthorn ( sloe ) to me their leaves do vary.

 

[Adopter]

Sloe or Blackthorn has quite long thorns but can not see any on the picture, the way the berries hang and size are the usual clue and it is difficult to tell from the photo. Leaves look a bit like it could be elderberry?

 

[fattylumpkin]

Looks like blackthorn to me too

 

[pennyturner]

Definitely looks like a prunus of some kind. Sloe, damson, something like that. I agree with the mare. It's food.

 

[yaffsimone1]

I thought Sloe but when i looked at pictures on Google they showed deep green shiny leaves.

Not sure why she has suddenly thought to demolish it, she is in at night has adlib hay during the day and feed.

 

[yaffsimone1]

As long as it isn't poisonous and it won't do her any harm, the berries are pretty much fallen off now, she can chomp away!

 

[Goldenstar]

I thought Sloe but when i looked at pictures on Google they showed deep green shiny leaves.

Not sure why she has suddenly thought to demolish it, she is in at night has adlib hay during the day and feed.

We have several different types on our land some exactly like the one in your picture and some with small narrow dark green leaves various in between.

 

[yaffsimone1]

Sloe or Blackthorn has quite long thorns but can not see any on the picture, the way the berries hang and size are the usual clue and it is difficult to tell from the photo. Leaves look a bit like it could be elderberry?

The fruit is too big for Elderberry. These are the size of a small marble

 

[calmgirl]

Damson?

 

[Tinypony]

I think damson...

 

[MrsNorris]

Also would say wild damson if theres no thorns and the fruits hang off little stalks.

 

[SuperH]

Looks damson like to me. My old pony loved damsons, she would hang over the fence into the orchard and see what she could nibble.

 

[lhotse]

It's blackthorn, the fruit are indeed sloes. Best get a bottle of gin before she eats them all!!

 

[yaffsimone1]

Also would say wild damson if theres no thorns and the fruits hang off little stalks.

Yes there aren't any thorns and the berries seem to hang individually off their own stalks

 

[yaffsimone1]

It's blackthorn, the fruit are indeed sloes. Best get a bottle of gin before she eats them all!!

Little b*gger is ravaging the tree, now i know why!

 

[cambrica]

Mmmm Sloe gin is my favourite!
Blackthorn are not poisonous, we have several bushes but be aware of the thorns. They are long, sharp and have a tendency to break off at the tips which can cause infection. Saying that in many years of having them I haven't had a problem.

 

[Abby-Lou]

Looks like sloes to me. If they are slightly bigger than a blackcurrant get them put in a bottle of Gordons quick with a cup of sugar Yummy !!!!!!!!!

 

[fattylumpkin]

Get one of the fruits and give it a bite if it's a sloe you'll know immediately!

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

And a proper Cob would eat the Iron rail fence in the background as well

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

It's blackthorn, the fruit are indeed sloes. Best get a bottle of gin before she eats them all!!

Amen to this!!! Pick the berries PDQ and then bung them in a plastic bag in the freezer.

Then.... go and get yourself a bottle of what you fancy, i.e. Gin, or you can equally use Brandy or other spirit if you fancy.

Tip out half the bottle (save the rest - obviously!) and then fill up the space with your sloe berries, straight from the freezer, topped up with a little sugar, say a dessertspoonful, or to taste.

Then put your bottle(s) away somewhere, and forget about them till Boxing Day meet - where you'll have a very nice little hipflask.

Note: freezing the berries saves you time and effort pricking them, as when they de-freeze the skin will break, which is what you want.

Enjoy!

 

[yaffsimone1]

Get one of the fruits and give it a bite if it's a sloe you'll know immediately!

There are quite a few at the top where she cant reach, i will have to get a step ladder. Knowing her, she will cotton onto what i'm doing and it will be a scuffle to see who gets there first!

 

[yaffsimone1]

Amen to this!!! Pick the berries PDQ and then bung them in a plastic bag in the freezer.

Then.... go and get yourself a bottle of what you fancy, i.e. Gin, or you can equally use Brandy or other spirit if you fancy.

Tip out half the bottle (save the rest - obviously!) and then fill up the space with your sloe berries, straight from the freezer, topped up with a little sugar, say a dessertspoonful, or to taste.

Then put your bottle(s) away somewhere, and forget about them till Boxing Day meet - where you'll have a very nice little hipflask.

Note: freezing the berries saves you time and effort pricking them, as when they de-freeze the skin will break, which is what you want.

Enjoy!

Ive got tomorrow off, i'm going to go slow picking while there are a few left

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

They could be Bilberries? The farm where I was in Norfolk had these, in amongst the Sloes and damsons

 

[lhotse]

We have damson and sloe gin on the go at this very moment!! Don't think they are billberries, the bushes tend to be smaller and the berries would be long gone by now as the birds love them!

 

[Adopter]

Damson or Sloe brandy is good, better still if you can save some for 12 months!! Add the Xmas scent by a stick of cinnamon, couple of cloves and a sprig of bay with the fruit. I have made three bottles this year last years was so good, especially the half bottle I saved for this year.

 

[Rose Folly]

99% certain it's a bullace (a wild plum). Cut one of the 'berries' and you'll see it looks like a small plum inside. (They make the most marvellous crumble - the smell when cooked is far better than any domestic plum). They are not poisonous. Horses aren't usually nterested in them.

 

[misterjinglejay]

If it has really sharp thorn, it could be a blackthorn, and whilst not poisonous, the spikes can pierce sensitive noses and get badly infected. The infections seem worse from blackthorn than from, say hawthorn.

 

[Patchworkpony]

Blackthorn. Be careful of the thorns a friend of mine had a horse that ate some of this and one of the thorns got lodged in the intestines - horse nearly died. Required expensive surgery!