Plum
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| Subgenus: | Prunus
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Aplumis asweetfruitthat grows on aplum tree.The scientific name for the tree isPrunusdomestica.When the fruit is dried, it is called aprune.The color "plum"takes its name from the fruit.
Prunus domesticais theEuropean plum.Most of the plums we eat are grown on varieties of this tree.Greengagesanddamsonsare varieties of plum.
The plant is usually a largeshrubor a smalltree.It has attractive whiteblossomin spring. The branches often havethorns.The fruit can be up to 8 cm across, and is usually sweet (dessert plum). Some varieties are sour and require cooking with sugar. The fruit has a single large seed inside.
Some plum trees need another plum tree growing nearby to fertilise the flowers. Without this the plum tree may not produce any fruit.
Plum colored plums are calledpurple plumsand are a deeppurplecolor; other plums are reddish purple. Some other plums can beyellow,red,greenor evenwhite.The fruit has a groove running down one side, and a smooth stone (seed). The flesh of the fruit is brownish and is very juicy. The skin can be eaten. It can also be used to makejamand thejuicecan be used to makewine.It is closely related to theapricot.
Plums contain many nutrients but is highest in vitamin C and potassium. A single plum contains approximately 6 grams ofvitamin Cand 100 grams ofpotassium.
Cultivation
[change|change source]There are manycultivarsof plum. Plums come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Some are much firmer-fleshed than others, and some have yellow, white, green or red flesh, with equally varying skin color. These are some of the best-kown:
- Damson(purple or black skin, green flesh, clingstone, astringent)
- Greengage(firm, green flesh and skin even when ripe)
- Yellowgageor golden plum (similar to greengage, but yellow)
- Victoria plum(yellow flesh with a red or mottled skin)
- Satsuma plum(firm red flesh with a red skin)
- Mirabelle plum(dark yellow, mostly grown in northeastFrance)
Related pages
[change|change source]References
[change|change source]- ↑D. Potter; T. Eriksson; R. C. Evans; S. Oh; J. E. E. Smedmark; D. R. Morgan; M. Kerr; K. R. Robson; M. Arsenault; T. A. Dickinson; C. S. Campbell (2007)."Phylogeny and classification of Rosaceae"(PDF).Plant Systematics and Evolution.266(1–2): 5–43.doi:10.1007/s00606-007-0539-9.S2CID16578516.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-11-24.Retrieved2018-07-04.Note that this publication pre-dates the 2011 International Botanical Congress which mandates that the combined subfamily referred to in the paper as Spiraeoideae must be called Amygdaloideae.("Article 19 – Ex.5".International Association for Plant Taxonomy.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-03-04.)
Other websites
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