Are these Damson berrys?

[fishhead]

Hi, found these today and was wondering if they are Damsons. The flesh is green and has a pip.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by fishhead

Hi, found these today and was wondering if they are Damsons. The flesh is green and has a pip.

I am pretty condfident that these are sloes (fruit of the Blackthorn Prunus spinosa. I think Damsons would have dropped by now.

henrya

[davidbr]

It's actually Prunus domestica ssp. insititia, usually known as Bullace; Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, has smaller fruits.

[fishhead]

Originally Posted by thunder

I am pretty condfident that these are sloes (fruit of the Blackthorn Prunus spinosa. I think Damsons would have dropped by now.

henrya

That's what I've been told, but there were no thorns on the branches at all. My partner has just looked them up and she thinks they could be Merryweather damsons which it says fruits in October.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by davidbr

It's actually Prunus domestica ssp. insititia, usually known as Bullace; Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, has smaller fruits.

I found it hard to judge the size

henrya

[fishhead]

Originally Posted by thunder

I found it hard to judge the size

henrya

They are about the size of grapes. Sorry, should have said in my original post.

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by fishhead

That's what I've been told, but there were no thorns on the branches at all. My partner has just looked them up and she thinks they could be Merryweather damsons which it says fruits in October.

A damson tree will have a thorns too... just not as many.

It would make it easier to identify if you could post pictures of the whole tree and give some hight reference's. At this time of year though the odds are higher on it been a BlackThorn tree and them being sloe rather then Damsons.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by fishhead

Hi, found these today and was wondering if they are Damsons. The flesh is green and has a pip.

I think all one can say is that it is an 'old type' plum - botanically it is as others have already identified Prunus domestica subsp. insititia, - whether it deserves the name Bullace or damson probably depends upon which part of the Country you're from and which authors you choose to consult.

The only thing that looks notable from the picture is the leaf size/shape which is perhaps a little more elongated than would be typical of modern damsons.

CM

[The Woodman]

There's a nice bit of info on Westmorland Damsons and Damsons in general here

Westmorland Damson Association

I have a Westmorland Damson in the garden which has bourne fruit for the first time this year. The seed was raised by the Association.

Getting away from the subject, Bullaces are known as "Sheepsmots" around the Forest of Dean.

[ChrisR]

Cherry Plum? In which part of the country were these seen? (it's useful if people fill in the location in their profiles )