Plum 56884 222975330 2008-07-02T00:15:12Z Balthazarduju 2625968 {{Otheruses}} {{Taxobox |name=Plum |image=Plum on tree02.jpg |image_width=250px |image_caption=''Prunus'' cultivar |regnum=[[Plant]]ae |divisio=[[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] |classis=[[Magnoliopsida]] |ordo=[[Rosales]] |familia=[[Rosaceae]] |subfamilia=[[Prunoideae]] |genus=''[[Prunus]]'' |subgenus='''''Prunus''''' |subdivision_ranks=Species |subdivision=See text. }} {{nutritionalvalue |name=Plums (without pit) |kJ=192 |protein=0.7 g |fat=0.3 g |carbs=11.4 g |fibre=1.4 g |sugars=9.9 g |vitC_mg=9.5 |source_usda=1 |right=1}} A '''plum''' or '''gage''' is a [[drupe|stone fruit]] [[tree]] in the genus ''[[Prunus]]'', subgenus ''Prunus''. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera ([[peach]]es, [[cherry|cherries]], [[bird cherry (subgenus)|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. ==Species== The subgenus is divided into three sections: *Sect. ''Prunus'' ('''[[Old World]] plums'''). Leaves in bud rolled inwards; flowers 1-3 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed. **''[[Cherry plum|P. cerasifera]]'' (cherry plum) **''Prunus cocomilia'' **''Prunus consociiflora" **''[[Prunus domestica|P. domestica]]'' (species of most "plums" and "[[prune]]s" sold as such)<!--incorrect; in North America they're often ''P. salicina''--> **''[[Prunus insititia|P. insititia]]'' (damson) **''[[Prunus salicina|P. salicina]]'' (Chinese/Japanese plum) **''[[Prunus simonii|P. simonii]]'' **''[[Blackthorn|P. spinosa]]'' (blackthorn or sloe) *Sect. ''Prunocerasus'' ('''[[New World]] plums'''). Leaves in bud folded inwards; flowers 3-5 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed. **''[[Prunus alleghaniensis|P. alleghaniensis]]'' **''[[Prunus americana|P. americana]]'' **''[[Prunus angustifolia|P. angustifolia]]'' **''[[Prunus hortulana|P. hortulana]]'' **''[[Prunus maritima|P. maritima]]'' (beach plum) **''[[Prunus mexicana|P. mexicana]]'' **''[[Prunus nigra|P. nigra]]'' **''[[Prunus orthosepala|P. orthosepala]]'' **''[[Prunus subcordata|P. subcordata]]'' (Klamath, Oregon, or Sierra plum) *Sect. ''Armeniaca'' ('''Apricots'''). Leaves in bud rolled inwards; flowers very short-stalked; fruit velvety. Treated as a distinct subgenus by some authors. **''[[Apricot|P. armeniaca]]'' (apricot) **''[[Prunus brigantina|P. brigantina]]'' **''[[Ume|P. mume]]'' (ume) **''[[Prunus sibirica|P. sibirica]]'' ==Cultivation and uses== [[Image:2005plums and sloes.PNG|thumb|right|Plum and [[sloe]] output in 2005]] [[Image:Plums.jpg|thumb|Plums]] Plum fruit is sweet and juicy 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]], [[Rakia]], [[Tzuica]] or [[Palinka]]. Dried plums are known as [[prune (fruit)|prunes]]. Prunes are also sweet and juicy and contain several [[antioxidant]]s. 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.failuremag.com/arch_business_dried_plums.html|author=Jason Zasky |title=Turning Over a New Leaf Change from 'Prune' to 'Dried Plum' Proving Fruitful|accessdate=2008-01-26}}</ref> Various flavours of dried plum are available at [[Chinese people|Chinese]] grocers and specialty stores worldwide. 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 [[slush (beverage)|Shaved Ice]] or ''[[baobing]]''. 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". The ''[[ume]]'', from which umeboshi are made, is however more closely related to the [[apricot]] than to the plum. 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 fiber]], [[sorbitol]],<ref>[http://www.salon.com/health/col/roac/1999/11/05/prunes/index.html M. Roach, The power of prunes (1999)]</ref> and [[isatin]].<ref>[http://www.innvista.com/health/foods/fruits/plums.htm Innvista article on plums]</ref> Prunes and prune juice are often used to help regulate the functioning of the [[digestive system]]. [[Image:Wang Mian, Blossoming Plum.jpg|thumb|''Blossoming plum'', by Chinese artist Wang Mian (1287-1359).]] Plum [[cultivar]]s in use today include: * [[Damson]], or [[Damask Plum]] * [[Greengage]], or greengage plum (firm, green flesh and skin even when ripe) * [[Mirabelle Plum|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. Flowering starts after 80 [[growing degree day]]s. 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 [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] including [[November Moth]], [[Willow Beauty]] and [[Short-cloaked Moth]]. The Serbian plum ([[Serbian language|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. The plum production averages 424,300 tonnes per year; FAO 1991–2001.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} 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. 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 ''[[Ume|mei]]'' blossom (''Prunus mume''), along with the [[peony]], are considered traditional floral emblems of [[China]]. 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 [[stamen]]s (one long and two short) representing the [[Three Principles of the People]] and the five petals symbolizing the [[politics of the Republic of China|five branches]] of the ROC government.<ref>[http://www.mofa.gov.tw/webapp/np.asp?ctNode=446 National Flag, Anthem and Flower]</ref> The designation repeats a previous statement by the ROC government in [[1929]]. <ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/64698.htm China Daily, National Flower, Tree, Bird to Be Chosen]</ref> 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. ==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]].<ref name = "Armenia">Armenian Food: Fact, Fiction & Folklore By Irina Petrosian, David Underwood</ref> [[Armenia]]n sources support their claims by referring to a 6,000-year-old apricot pit found in an archaeological site near [[Yerevan]].<ref name = "Armenia">Armenian Food: Fact, Fiction & Folklore By Irina Petrosian, David Underwood</ref> Other historians point that [[Mesopotamia]] as a clue to the Latin name.<!--Grammar of preceding sentence is so bad that the meaning is unclear.--> Apricots were cultivated in Mesopotamia, and it<!--Is "it" the tree or fruit?--> was known as ''armanu'' in the [[Akkadian language]]. <gallery> Image:Plums on tree.jpg|''Prunus domestica'' Image:Red Plums on tree.jpg|''Prunus domestica'' Image:Bluebyrd plum.jpg|Bluebyrd plum Image:Plum2web.jpg|Plum (variety Tucker) - watercolor 1894 Image:Plum1web.jpg|Plum (variety Pacific Prune) - watercolor 1893 Image:Plum blossoming.jpg Image:Plum blossoms.jpg Image:PlumBlossom.JPG|Plum blossoms Image:Plum flowers.jpg|Plum blossom Image:Shiny plum.jpg Image:Plum tree.jpg Image:Plums in basket.jpg Image:Plums in tree.jpg Image:Plums early morning.jpg Image:Flor del ciruelo.jpg Image:Golden Drop.JPG|"'''Golden Drop'''" (yellowgage)Plum from [[Iran]] </gallery> ==References== {{reflist}} ==See also== *[[Fruit trees]] *[[Fruit tree forms]] *[[Fruit tree propagation]] *[[Pruning fruit trees]] *[[Pluot]] *[[Prune (fruit)]] *[[Dietary fiber]] ==External links== {{Sisterlinks|Plum}} *[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/pram.htm ''Prunus americanum'' images] hosted by the Department of Biological Sciences of [[Vanderbilt University]] [[Category:Plums| ]] [[Category:Flora of Armenia]] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[ar:برقوق]] [[frp:Promiér]] [[zh-min-nan:Lí-á]] [[bg:Слива]] [[ca:Prunera]] [[cs:Švestka]] [[da:Blommetræ]] [[de:Pflaume]] [[el:Δαμάσκηνο]] [[es:Ciruela]] [[fa:آلو]] [[fr:Prunier]] [[gl:Ameixa, froito]] [[ko:자두]] [[hy:Սալոր]] [[hr:Šljiva]] [[id:Prem]] [[it:Prunus domestica]] [[he:שזיף]] [[ms:Pokok Plum]] [[nl:Pruim]] [[ja:スモモ亜属]] [[no:Plomme]] [[nn:Plomme]] [[pl:Śliwa domowa]] [[pt:Ameixeira]] [[ru:Слива домашняя]] [[simple:Plum]] [[sq:Kumbulla]] [[sr:Шљива]] [[fi:Luumu]] [[sv:Plommon]] [[vi:Mận]] [[tr:Erik]] [[uk:Слива домашня]] [[vls:Prume]] [[zh:李]]