David (in Normandy) wrote:
Anyone recognise this small tree please?
It is approximately 15 to 20 feet high and covered with lichens. It has
small blue/grey berries on it, which are mostly pip with a very thin pulp.
The pip is very hard and firmly attached to the thin flesh.

Pictures at:

http://www.avisoft.co.uk/MysteryTree.jpg

http://www.avisoft.co.uk/MysteryTwigWithBerries.JPG

http://www.avisoft.co.uk/MysteryBerryCutOpen.JPG

--

I believe it's a blackthorn - the fruit is called sloe in English I
think - definitely prunelle in French.
You can pick them after the first frosts, and make jam. Or you can do
what the English do, and macerate them into mind altering beverages :-)

Cat(h)