Plum
"Plum" is also a nickname for British humorist P.G. Wodehouse.
A plum or gage is a
stone fruit tree in the genus
Prunus is a genus [i] of tree [i]s and shrub [i]s, including the
plum [i]s, cherries [i] ...
, subgenus
Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and the side buds solitary , 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 subgenus is divided into three sections:
*Sect.
Prunus . Leaves in bud rolled inwards; flowers 1-3 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed. Species:
P. cerasifera, P.
Encyclopedia
"Plum" is also a nickname for British humorist P.G. Wodehouse.A
plum or gage is a
stone fruit tree in the genus
Prunus is a genus [i] of tree [i]s and shrub [i]s, including the
plum [i]s, cherries [i] ...
, subgenus
Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and the side buds solitary , 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 subgenus is divided into three sections:
- Sect. Prunus . Leaves in bud rolled inwards; flowers 1-3 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed. Species: P. cerasifera, P. cocomilia, P. consociiflora, P. domestica, P. salicina is a small deciduous [i] tree native to China [i], and now also grown in Korea [i] a...
, P. simonii, P. spinosa
...
.
- Sect. Prunocerasus . Leaves in bud folded inwards; flowers 3-5 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed. Species: P. alleghaniensis, P. americana, P. angustifolia, P. hortulana, P. maritima, P. mexicana, P. nigra, P. orthosepala, P. subcordata.
- Sect. Armeniaca . Leaves in bud rolled inwards; flowers very short-stalked; fruit velvety. Treated as a distinct subgenus by some authors. Species: P. armeniaca, P. brigantina, P. mume, P. sibirica.
Cultivation and uses
Plum fruit is sweet, juicy and edible, and it can be eaten fresh or used in
jam-making or other recipes. Plum juice can be fermented into
plum wine; when distilled, this produces a
brandy known in Eastern Europe as
Slivovitz. Dried plums are known as
prunes. Prunes are sweet and juicy. They also contain several antioxidants that may slow aging.
Prune marketers in the
United States have, in recent years, begun marketing their product as "dried plums", because "prunes" has negative connotations of being unappetizing, and suitable only for the elderly.
Various flavours of dried plum are available in South East Asia and specialty stores worldwide. They tend to be much dryer than prunes. Cream, Ginsing, Spicy, and Salty are some of the common varieties.
Licorice is generally used to intensify the flavour of these varieties. This variety is used to make salty plum drinks and toppings for Shaved Ice or
baobing.
Pickled plums are another type of preserved plum available in Asia and specialty stores worldwide. The Japanese variety, called
umeboshi, is often used for rice balls.
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. This effect has been attributed to various compounds present in the fruits, such as dietary fibre,
sorbitol, and isatin. Prunes and prune juice are often used to help regulate the functioning of the
digestive system.
Plum
cultivars in use today include:
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. Flowering starts after 80 growing degree days.
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. 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.
The plum and the alcoholic drink
slivovitz are both very popular in
Serbia, where plum production averages 424,300 tonnes per year; FAO 1991–2001.
The
mei blossom , along with the
peony, are considered traditional floral emblems of
China. In 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 representing the
Three Principles of the People and the five petals symbolizing the
five branches of the ROC government . The designation, repeats a previous statement by the ROC government in 1929 .
In
Taiwan the plum has been increasingly used as the national emblem of the Republic of China, as the 12-ray sun originated from the
Kuomintang party flag.
The
mei blossom is also the floral symbol of the ancient Chinese city
Nanjing, which served as the former capital of the Republic of China.
References
See also
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External links
