Prunus domestica

Prunus domestica (sometimes referred to as Prunus × domestica) is a Prunus species with many varieties. These are often called "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.

Subspecies

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 (Damask plums) and bullaces
• 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 [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Prunus_domestica Prunus domestica] at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Prunus domestica at Wikispecies