Prunus domestica

Description

It typically forms a large shrub or a small tree. It may be somewhat thorny, with white blossom, borne in early spring. The oval or spherical fruit varies in size, but can be up to 8 cm across. The pulp is usually sweet, but some varieties are sour. Like all Prunus fruits, it contains a single large seed, usually called a stone, which is discarded when eating.

|Prunus domestica, Agde 01.jpg|In early bloom |Prunus domestica s. lat. sl11.jpg|Young leaves |Fior di Prugno (bis).jpg|Flowers in spring |Prunus domestica 44077334.jpg|Unripe fruits |Pflaumen SJ Eda 20210820 165821.jpg|Ripe fruits |

Taxonomy

The species' hybrid parentage was believed to be Prunus spinosa and P. cerasifera; however, recent cytogenetic evidence seem to implicate 2×, 4×, 6× P. cerasifera as the sole wild stock from which the cultivated 6× P. domestica could have evolved.

Subspecies

Cullen et al. (1995) recognises three subspecies, though scientific studies favor a more fine-grained separation:

The subspecies cross easily, so that numerous intermediate forms can be found: their sweetness and tartness may vary, their colors varying from bluish-purple to red, orange, yellow or light green.

|Greengages.jpg|Greengages |Mirabellen.jpg|Mirabelle plum

Cultivars

Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use. The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

• 'Blue Rock'
• 'Blue Tit'
• 'Czar'
• 'Imperial Gage'
• 'Jefferson'
• 'Laxton's Delight'
• 'Mallard'
• 'Marjory's Seedling'
• 'Opal'
• 'Oullins Gage'
• 'Pershore'
• 'Victoria'

Uses

The pulp is edible and usually sweet, though some varieties are sour and require cooking with sugar to make them palatable.

Plums are grown commercially in orchards, but modern rootstocks, together with self-fertile strains, training and pruning methods, allow single plums to be grown in relatively small spaces. Their early flowering and fruiting means that they require a sheltered spot away from frosts and cold winds.

Most prunes (dried plums) are made from fruits of this species.

|Prunus domestica ripe fruits.jpg|Harvested ripe fruits

Notes

References

References

1. (2017). "''Prunus domestica''".
2. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
3. Klein, Carol. (2009). "Grow Your Own Fruit". [[Mitchell Beazley]].
4. (1947). "The Genetics of Garden Plants". MacMillan & Co. LTD.
5. (2000). "Our Plums/Les Pruniers de chez nous". Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Agriculteur et Agroalimentaire Canada.
6. Zohary, Daniel. (1992-03-01). "Is the European plum, Prunus domestica L., a P. cerasifera EHRH. × P. spinosa L. allo-polyploid?". Euphytica.
7. Cullen, J. et al. (1995). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ly7ESAAACAAJ ''The European Garden Flora. Volume IV'']. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
8. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Blue Rock'".
9. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Blue Tit'".
10. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Czar'".
11. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Imperial Gage'".
12. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Jefferson'".
13. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Laxton's Delight'".
14. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Mallard'".
15. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Marjory's Seedling'".
16. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Opal'".
17. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Oullins Gage'".
18. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Pershore'".
19. "RHS Plant Selector – ''Prunus domestica'' 'Victoria'".
20. Little, Elbert L.. (1980). "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region". Knopf.