Japanese Plum Tree
The Japanese Plum tree is a small orchard tree native to China. It is grown in gardens for fruit in places like Japan, Korea, and the United States. The Japanese plum grows to be between 12-15ft tall and 10-15 wide. The tree is popular because of its sweet plum’s which range in color from bright red to dark maroon. The fruit from the tree is approximately 4-7 cm in diameter. The tree blossom’s in early spring and the tree produces white petals on the leaves. The Japanese Plum is in the Rosaceae family and the Scientific name for the tree is Prunus Salicina.
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Quick Facts About the Tree
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Community Surrounding the Tree
Many different species of the tree are cultivated in China, Japan, Korea, and the U.S. Many of the fresh plums are sold in markets and are used as different ingredients for food recipes. The tree’s are grown on a large scale in numerous other countries. In China, the plums are sold preserved and are flavored with sugar and salt.
Current Research
Different insects in Japan can cause damage to the fruit and cause them to be infected and un consumable. Fruit flies, aphids, and birds damage the fruit daily. The Japanese plum is highly perishable and needs to be stored at cool temperatures to maintain quality. Signs of a damaged plum are flesh browning, red pigment accumulation, and loss of flavor. Over cooling of the fruit is also a way to damage the taste and cause softening and over-ripening. Low oxygen can cause the off-flavor and softening of the fruit after extended storage time.
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EthnobotanyThe Japanese Plum is indigenous to southeastern China. It has been cultivated in Japan for over 1,000 years. The tree is known to be excellent for fruit and sold in local markets. Cultivation spread to India and portions of the East Indies, as well as South Africa. The tree was brought to America and started in Florida before making its way into the Carolina’s. The tree is grown in greenhouses today and is very popular. Japan is the leading producer of the tree with the annual crop totaling to the amount of 17,000 tons.
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Creative Writing
The Japanese Plum tree is a very well known tree around the world because of the popularity of the sweet fruit. The thought of a plum tree makes me think about my childhood days at my grandparents house when my grandmother and I would pick plums from the trees in her backyard and decide which ones we would have for a snack. I remember how at first I did not enjoy the taste of a fresh plum but as the years went on, I had found a taste that I surely did enjoy. There was a kind of taste that made the pies that my grandma made tade so much better because of the special ingredients that she would use.
Other than the taste of the plum, I always liked to sit and pet my grandparents dog while we would observe the bright pink and white colors that the flowers on the tree had to show. There is something about a plum tree that I will always remember because of the days that I spent with my grandparents. I enjoy walking around campus and seeing the plum trees as a reminder of my grandparents who live far away. I know that when the plum trees start to blossom in the spring, my grandma will be observing the tree that she has in her yard. I hope that I am able to visit her and talk to her about the trees here at Chico and enjoy one of her delicious pies.
Other than the taste of the plum, I always liked to sit and pet my grandparents dog while we would observe the bright pink and white colors that the flowers on the tree had to show. There is something about a plum tree that I will always remember because of the days that I spent with my grandparents. I enjoy walking around campus and seeing the plum trees as a reminder of my grandparents who live far away. I know that when the plum trees start to blossom in the spring, my grandma will be observing the tree that she has in her yard. I hope that I am able to visit her and talk to her about the trees here at Chico and enjoy one of her delicious pies.
References
Beauty Japanese Plum (Prunus salicina 'Beauty') - Monrovia - Beauty Japanese Plum (Prunus salicina 'Beauty'). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2854/beauty-japanese-plum.php
Facts about Japanese Plum (Prunus salicina) - Encyclopedia of Life. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://eol.org/pages/231338/details#habitat
Prunus salicina Japanese Plum PFAF Plant Database. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+salicina
Loquat/Japanese Plum Tree ― PlantOGram.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.plantogram.com/product/loquat/
Postharvest handling of plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.) at 10°C to save energy and preserve fruit quality using an innovative application system of 1-MCP. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925521412001950
Prunus mume - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2013, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume
Prunus salicina at B & T World Seeds. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/cartall.asp?species=Prunus%20salicina&sref=435281
Retrieved from http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55852/#b
Facts about Japanese Plum (Prunus salicina) - Encyclopedia of Life. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://eol.org/pages/231338/details#habitat
Prunus salicina Japanese Plum PFAF Plant Database. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+salicina
Loquat/Japanese Plum Tree ― PlantOGram.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.plantogram.com/product/loquat/
Postharvest handling of plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.) at 10°C to save energy and preserve fruit quality using an innovative application system of 1-MCP. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925521412001950
Prunus mume - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2013, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume
Prunus salicina at B & T World Seeds. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/cartall.asp?species=Prunus%20salicina&sref=435281
Retrieved from http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55852/#b