Sign spring is sloe-ly coming

12:27pm Monday 21st April 2008

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The Hibernian Tranquiliser. Is this a drink? No. Is it an Irish boxer? No. Actually it is a humorous name for the blackthorn of sloe tree.

Why this name? The wood of this shrub is black especially when seen in contrast to the white blossom seen to perfection in the spring. In Ireland the timber was used to make the club called the shellelagh.

Because the flowers appear before the leaves, sloe blossom is among one of the earliest signs of spring and is a very common sight in East Lancashire hedgerows.

The thorns deter grazing animals from nibbling the buds which are also resistant to wind and salt spray.

As a result, blackthorn is an ideal hedging plant. It is the dark sour fruits which are known as sloes.

The juice became known as Indian Ink which does not run and therefore once used in laundry marks.

Another old use was to dry the leaves and brew them like tea.

During the war my great grandmother, who was a skilled herbalist, mixed sloe leaves with tea and defied anybody to taste the difference.

The word blackthorn contrasts with the whitethorn which is another name for the hawthorn. Here the leaves appear before the blossom which is seen at its best in May and June. If you fancy being tranquilised, do not resort to the sloe tree, but avoid being knocked senseless and make yourself a cup of tea.