This spiky shrub is a British native, widespread over southern England but nowhere common. The spiky ‘ leaves’ are in fact flattened stems or cladodes, and the inconspicuous 6 petalled flowers of cream and lilac are borne in the middle of these. They produce large round green fruit which turns red when ripe. It has an underground stem and will form a dense impenetrable thicket. It is a member of the lily family. Fls 1-4
