Prunus × fruticans

Prunus × fruticans (or Prunus fruticans) is a shrubby dark-fruiting Prunus of hybrid origin allied to blackthorn, bullace and damsons. Examples frequently reach about 4 m (13 ft) in height, although large tree-like forms are known. Morphological, habitat and genetic data indicate that most or all examples of fruticans represents hybrids of blackthorn Prunus spinosa, and Prunus domestica var. insititia be it in its black bullace (var. nigra) or damson (var. damascene) forms. Prunus x fruticans is found mainly in Europe where these species ranges overlap. Analysis of some forms reveals it to be a tetraploid despite suspected parentage involving tetraploid and hexaploid species otherwise expected to produce at least some pentaploid offspring. However, earlier research that examined different morphologies in different geographical areas across Europe have identified self-fertile forms, which in the context of additional research suggests that some are pentaploid or hexaploid. Hanelt also ......read more on Wikipedia.