Plum
Prunus cultivar
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Prunoideae Genus: Prunus Subgenus: Prunus
Species
See text. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Magnoliopsida is the Botanical name for a class of Flowering plants By definition the class will include the family Magnoliaceae, but its For other meanings see Rosales (disambiguation. Rosales is an order of Flowering plants including nine families The Rosaceae or Rose family is a large family of Plants with about 3000-4000 species in 100-160 genera Prunoideae, also called Amygdaloideae, is the Flowering plant subfamily containing the genera Prunus and Prinsepia Prunus is a Genus of Trees and Shrubs including the Plums cherries, Peaches Apricots and

A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or Prunus is a Genus of Trees and Shrubs including the Plums cherries, Peaches Apricots and The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera (peaches, cherries, bird cherries, etc) in the shoots having a terminal bud and the side buds solitary (not clustered), the flowers being grouped 1-5 together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one side, and a smooth stone. The peach ( Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach This article is about the Cherry berry also classified as fruit for the ornamental tree See Cherry Blossom. The bird cherries are a Subgenus of the Genus Prunus, characterised by having Deciduous leaves, Flowers

Species

The subgenus is divided into three sections:

• Sect. Prunus (Old World plums). The Old World consists of those parts of Earth known to Europeans Asians and Africans in the 15th century Leaves in bud rolled inwards; flowers 1-3 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed.
  • P. cerasifera (cherry plum)
  • Prunus cocomilia
  • Prunus consociiflora"
  • P. domestica (species of most "plums" and "prunes" sold as such)
  • P. insititia (damson)
  • P. salicina (Chinese/Japanese plum)
  • P. The Cherry plum ( Prunus cerasifera, syn P divaricata) also called Myrobalan (plum and Purple leaf plum, is a species of Plum A plum or gage is a stone fruit Tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. A prune is any of various of various Plum species mostly Prunus domesticus or European Plum (commonly referred to as a Sugar Plum The damson or damson plum ( Prunus domestica subsp insititia, or sometimes Prunus insititia) is an edible drupaceous fruit simonii
  • P. spinosa (blackthorn or sloe)
• Sect. Blackthorn redirects here for other uses see Blackthorn (disambiguation Prunus spinosa ( Blackthorn or Sloe Prunocerasus (New World plums). The New World is one of the names used for the non-Eurasian/non-African parts of the Earth specifically the Americas and Australia. Leaves in bud folded inwards; flowers 3-5 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed.
  • P. alleghaniensis
  • P. americana
  • P. angustifolia
  • P. hortulana
  • P. maritima (beach plum)
  • P. mexicana
  • P. nigra
  • P. Prunus maritima ( Beach Plum) is a species of plum native to the Atlantic coast of North America, from New Brunswick Prunus mexicana, commonly known as the Mexican plum, is a single-trunked Plum tree that grows to a height of 15-38 feet Prunus nigra ( Canada Plum or Black Plum) is a species of Prunus, native to eastern North America from New Brunswick orthosepala
  • P. subcordata (Klamath, Oregon, or Sierra plum)
• Sect. Klamath plum, also called Oregon plum, or Sierra plum ( Prunus subcordata) is a member of the genus Prunus (plum cherry Armeniaca (Apricots). Leaves in bud rolled inwards; flowers very short-stalked; fruit velvety. Treated as a distinct subgenus by some authors.
  • P. armeniaca (apricot)
  • P. The Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin syn brigantina
  • P. mume (ume)
  • P. sibirica

Cultivation and uses

Plum and sloe output in 2005

Plum fruit is sweet and juicy and it can be eaten fresh or used in jam-making or other recipes. Blackthorn redirects here for other uses see Blackthorn (disambiguation Prunus spinosa ( Blackthorn or Sloe Plum juice can be fermented into plum wine; when distilled, this produces a brandy known in Eastern Europe as Slivovitz, Rakia, Tzuica or Palinka. "Elderberry Wine" redirects here For the Elton John song of the same name see Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. Brandy (from brandywine, derived from Dutch brandewijn — “burnt wine” is a spirit produced by distilling Wine Slivovitz is a Distilled beverage made from Damson plums It is frequently called plum brandy If anyone else has a dictionary of some Slavic language Rakia or rakija (raki arichii rakija ракия rakia rakija ρακί pálinka ракија/rakija rachiu (reg Ţuică (in Romanian /'ʦujkə/ sometimes spelled tuica, tzuika, tsuika, tsuica Pálinka ( Hungarian: Pálinka, Romanian: Pălincă, Slovak: Pálenka) is a traditional type of Brandy Dried plums are known as prunes. A prune is any of various of various Plum species mostly Prunus domesticus or European Plum (commonly referred to as a Sugar Plum Prunes are also sweet and juicy and contain several antioxidants. An antioxidant is a Molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules

Prune marketers in the United States have, in recent years, begun marketing their product as "dried plums", because "prune" has negative connotations connected with elderly people suffering from constipation. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Constipation, costiveness, or irregularity, is a condition of the Digestive system in which a person (or animal experiences hard Feces that ^[1]

Various flavours of dried plum are available at Chinese grocers and specialty stores worldwide. The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China (including Hong They tend to be much drier than the standard prune. Cream, Ginsing, Spicy, and Salty are among the common variety flavours. Licorice is generally used to intensify the flavour of these plums and is used to make salty plum drinks and toppings for Shaved Ice or baobing. Liquorice (UK or licorice (US (see spelling differences;, or) is the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, from which a sweet flavour can be extracted Slush is a blend of water flavored syrup and ice Popular slush beverage flavors include strawberry blue raspberry creme soda grape cherry and lemon-lime

Pickled plums are another type of preserve available in Asia and international specialty stores. The Japanese variety, called umeboshi, is often used for rice balls, called "Onigiri" or "Omusubi". Umeboshi ( Japanese: 梅[[wiktionary 干|干]] literally "dried Ume " are pickled ume fruits The ume, from which umeboshi are made, is however more closely related to the apricot than to the plum. The Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin syn

Prune kernel oil is made from the fleshy inner part of the pit of the plum.

Plums come in a wide variety of colours and sizes. Some are much firmer-fleshed than others and some have yellow, white, green or red flesh, with equally varying skin colour.

Plums and prunes are known for their laxative effect. Laxatives (or purgatives) are foods compounds or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool most often taken to treat Constipation. This effect has been attributed to various compounds present in the fruits, such as dietary fiber, sorbitol,^[2] and isatin. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Sorbitol, also known as glucitol, is a Sugar alcohol that the body metabolises slowly Isatin or 1H-indole-23-dione is an Indole derivative The compound was first obtained by Erdman and Laurent in 1841 as a product from the Oxidation ^[3] Prunes and prune juice are often used to help regulate the functioning of the digestive system. Digestion is the breaking down of chemicals in the body into a form that can be absorbed

Plums

Plum cultivars in use today include:

• Damson, or Damask Plum
• Greengage, or greengage plum (firm, green flesh and skin even when ripe)
• Mirabelle (a dark yellow plum predominantly grown in northeast France)
• Satsuma plum (firm red flesh with a red skin)
• Golden or yellowgage plum (like the greengage, but yellow)

When it flowers in the early spring, a plum tree will be covered in blossom, and in a good year approximately 50% of the flowers will be pollinated and become plums. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar The damson or damson plum ( Prunus domestica subsp insititia, or sometimes Prunus insititia) is an edible drupaceous fruit The damson or damson plum ( Prunus domestica subsp insititia, or sometimes Prunus insititia) is an edible drupaceous fruit The Greengage ( Prunus domestica or the 'Reine Claude' is an edible drupaceous Fruit, a Cultivar of the Plum. The mirabelle plum, also known as the mirabelle prune ( Prunus domestica var This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Alternate meanings See Blossom (disambiguation Blossom is a term given to the Flowers of Stone fruit trees Flowering starts after 80 growing degree days. Growing degree days (GDD are a Heuristic tool in Phenology. GDD are used by horticulturists and Gardeners to predict the date that a flower will

If the weather is too dry the plums will not develop past a certain stage, but will fall from the tree while still tiny green buds, and if it is unseasonably wet or if the plums are not harvested as soon as they are ripe, the fruit may develop a fungal condition called brown rot. For brown rot of trees and wood see Dry rot. Brown rot ( Monilinia fructicola) is a Fungal condition that attacks Brown rot is not toxic, and very small affected areas can be cut out of the fruit, but unless the rot is caught immediately the fruit will no longer be edible. Plum is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera including November Moth, Willow Beauty and Short-cloaked Moth. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. The November Moth ( Epirrita dilutata) is a Moth of the family Geometridae. The Willow Beauty ( Peribatodes rhomboidaria) is a Moth of the family Geometridae. The Short-cloaked Moth ( Nola cucullatella) is a Moth of the family Nolidae.

The Serbian plum (Serbian: шљива / šljiva) is the third most produced in the world and the alcoholic drink slivovitz (Plum brandy) (Serbian: шљивовица / šljivovica) is the national drink of Serbia. Serbian (sr-Cyrl српски језик sr-Latn ''srpski jezik'' is a South Slavic language, Slivovitz is a Distilled beverage made from Damson plums It is frequently called plum brandy If anyone else has a dictionary of some Slavic language The plum production averages 424,300 tonnes per year; FAO 1991–2001.

A large number of plums are also grown in Hungary where they are called szilva and are used to make lekvar (a plum paste jam), palinka (a slivovitz-type liquor), plum dumplings, and other foods. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Lekvar ia a thich jam or fruit butter Lekvár is a very thick sometimes coarse Jam of pure ripe fruit Pálinka ( Hungarian: Pálinka, Romanian: Pălincă, Slovak: Pálenka) is a traditional type of Brandy The region which produces the best and most plums is Szabolcs-Szatmár in the northeastern part of the country near the borders with Ukraine and Romania.

The mei blossom (Prunus mume), along with the peony, are considered traditional floral emblems of China. For the ancient Balkan region and tribe see Paionia. The peony or paeony ( Paeonia) is the only genus in the China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National On June 21, 1964, the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China officially designated the mei blossom to be its national flower, with the triple grouping of stamens (one long and two short) representing the Three Principles of the People and the five petals symbolizing the five branches of the ROC government. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The Executive Yuan ( literally "Executive court" is the Executive branch of the Government of the Republic of China. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES This article is about symbols of nations Many countries it can be used for is Chantal The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male The Three Principles of the People, also Translated as Three People's Principles, or collectively San-min Doctrine, is a Political Philosophy The Politics of the Republic of China (ROC takes place in a framework of a Semi-presidential representative democratic Republic, ^[4] The designation repeats a previous statement by the ROC government in 1929. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[5]

The mei blossom is also the floral symbol of the ancient Chinese city Nanjing, which served as the former capital (and remained designated as the official capital) of the Republic of China. ( Chinese: 南京 Romanizations Nánjīng ( Pinyin) Nan-ching ( Wade-Giles

Etymology

The fruit Prunus armeniaca gained its name from the beliefs of Pliny the Elder, a Roman historian and scientist of the 1st century, who maintained that the apricot was a kind of a plum, and had originally come from Armenia. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author The Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin syn Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani ^[6] Armenian sources support their claims by referring to a 6,000-year-old apricot pit found in an archaeological site near Yerevan. Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Yerevan (Երևան Երեւան or Երեվան ˌjɛrəˈvɑːn sometimes written as Erevan, Iravan, Erewan, Ayrivan, and Erivan ^[6] Other historians point that Mesopotamia as a clue to the Latin name. Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding Apricots were cultivated in Mesopotamia, and it was known as armanu in the Akkadian language.

Prunus domestica	Prunus domestica	Bluebyrd plum	Plum (variety Tucker) - watercolor 1894
Plum (variety Pacific Prune) - watercolor 1893			Plum blossoms
Plum blossom
			"Golden Drop" (yellowgage)Plum from Iran

References

See also

• Fruit trees
• Fruit tree forms
• Fruit tree propagation
• Pruning fruit trees
• Pluot
• Prune (fruit)
• Dietary fiber

External links

• Prunus americanum images hosted by the Department of Biological Sciences of Vanderbilt University