A contribution to the variability of Prunus spinosa L. in the vicinity of the mediaeval Castle Kolno, near Brzeg, S-W Poland

In the present work, the variability of stone characteristics of mediaeval fossil forms and modern ones from a small blackthorn population in the vicinity of Castle Kolno was analysed. A modern hybrid form obtained from crossing with cultivated plums and appropriate fossil morphotypes were discovered. The analysis of the correlation of features indicated developmental relationships between them. The pattern of variability of the examined stones in the ordination space confirmed the development of the Prunus spinosa-Prunus domestica complex as an element of the dynamic syngameon. The population also showed variations in leaf morphotypes, which may be used in taxonomic analysis.