Sloe is a dense shrub, grows to 4 m in height, with brownish, divaricate, thorny branches; simple, alternate, lanceolate leaves with finely dentate edges; white, solitary or geminate flowers supported by a glabrous peduncle; and globose, blue-violet, sour berries. The plant grows in thickets, along roadsides and in waste places in areas with mild, temperate Mediterranean climate; it grows also in Iran and southern Siberia. The parts used are the berries and the bark and flowers. The fruit is crushed, fermented and
sloe gin is distilled from it.
Main constituents of the bark include various tannins and alkaloids. The flowers contain, in addition to amygdalin, traces of an essential oil, gums, resins and quercetin.
