Foragers - berry ID please?

2cats1kid

Been out hunting for sloes, and have failed spectacularly. Have found a tree with small blue/black berries, though, and wondered if anyone could help.

The berries are small - smaller than rosehips by a long way - more sort of large haw/blueberry size. Oval shape though, rather than round like blueberries. There are no thorns on the bush, so not a sloe. I was thinking maybe small damsons, but when I took a cautious lick of the fruit it was sour. Not toe-curlingly sour like people say sloes are, but you certainly wouldn't eat the fruit as is, and you can eat damsons raw, can't you? It had a slight bloom on the fruit, and a large stone in the centre - very little pulp.

Any ideas?

Penelope_Penguin

It might be a bullace Do you have any pics - pics and description of the bush and leaves are often more useful than that of the fruit

And a word of caution - it's best not to try eating anything until you have a positive ID

Penny. x

2cats1kid

Yeah, Penelope, I know. But I figured there isn't too much around that a smidgen on the end of my tongue would kill me

The bush I'd say was 10-12 feet high, and was in a hedgerow with elder, dog rose, hawthorn etc. so I thought it looked promising for blackthorn but wasn't. The leaves looked like plum leaves, which made me think might be something damson-y, but didn't have the crinkly edge like damson.

I'm looking at a hedgerow tree identifier and so far the closest I've found is bird cherry. Could be that - in which case it doesn't sound like I can do much with it.

morganlefay

Hi, I think PP is right, leaves might be easier to identify. If they were sloes they wouldn't be 'ripe' enough probably yet, as they go on lurking on the branches for ages and are supposed to be fine (better even ?)even after first frosts. We have a funny little wild plum thing round here (Bucks) which sounds bigger than your thing and has little taste, but probably like a lot of thse things they might be better cooked if you could ever find enough of them. try stewing a few gently to see, though PP is right again about being careful what you eat (sorry to sound schoolmarmy but wouldn't want you to come to harm in pursuit of thrift !)

2cats1kid

I've found a few pics of bird cherry and they look right, so I think that's what it probably is. Looks like the only real use for them is putting in whisky or brandy, so I'll pass on them.

Gigervamp

I've never heard of bird cherry. Going to have to look that one up.

DawnW

It sounds more like a sort of bullace or wild plum to me, due to the colour of the berries. We have them growing in the hedgerows (wilts, also oxon, where I used to live). Can't you post a picture of it?