Skewerwood berries

Surely the most remarkable of all the fruits to be found in our woods at the moment, with their four miniature 'oranges' held within bright pink lobes, the spindle berries really stand out. Our trees seem to have flowered and set berries better than normal this year, traditionally a sign that there would be an outbreak of plague! The wonderful Geoffrey Grigson gives 21 different country names for Euonymous europaeus, including Pegwood, Prickwood, Skewerwood and Skiver-tree - all names referring to the use of the hard white wood for things like skewers, pegs, knitting needles and toothpicks. The berries, variously known as Dog-tooth berries, Popcorns and Louse-berries were baked and powdered to apply as a treatment for head lice and nits.