Prunus domestica

Prunus domestica P. domestica plum Probably a round plum or egg plum cultivar Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Genus: Prunus Subgenus: Prunus Section: Prunus Species: P. domestica Binomial name Prunus domestica L.

Prunus domestica (sometimes referred to as Prunus × domestica) is a Prunus species with many varieties. These are often called "plums" or "sugar plums" in common English, though not all plums belong to this species. Its hybrid parentage is believed to be Prunus spinosa and Prunus cerasifera var. divaricata. This is the most commonly grown plum at least in Europe, and most prunes (dried plums) are made from fruits of this species.

Characteristics

Typically it forms a large shrub or a small tree. It may be somewhat thorny, with white flowers, borne in early spring. The fruit varies in size, but can be up to 8 cm across, and is usually sweet, but can be rather acid in some varieties.

Cultivars

Various cultivars of plums with number labels - Imperial Gage (1), Damson (2), Lombard (3), Maynard (4) and Yellow Egg (5)

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'

Subspecies

Greengages

Mirabelle plum

The European Garden Flora recognises three subspecies, though scientific studies favor a more fine-grained separation:

P. domestica ssp. domestica – common plums, zwetschge (including ssp. oeconomica) P. domestica ssp. insititia – damsons and bullaces, krieche, kroosjes, perdrigon and other European varieties P. domestica ssp. intermedia – egg plums (including Victoria plum) P. domestica ssp. italica – gages (greengages, round plums etc.; including sspp. claudiana and rotunda) P. domestica ssp. pomariorum – spilling P. domestica ssp. prisca – zibarte P. domestica ssp. syriaca – mirabelle plums

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.

References

• European Garden Flora; vol. IV; 1995.

External links

Media related to Prunus domestica at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Prunus domestica at Wikispecies