Purple – Black, Bitter Drupes
The Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) or Draighean/Draighneán donn in Irish has produced a bounty of purple-black fruit in the hedgerows now (1). These fruits which are covered in a blue waxy substance are called sloes or airní in Irish. They are classified as drupes. These are fleshy fruits with thin skins and hard stones in their…