PlumsPosted 10 years ago under Uncategorized

Plums are a nutritious fruit that are commonly eaten fresh or dried. They have a number of nutritional benefits. Most well-known are its laxative effects. Less well-known is the fact that extracts from the leafs of black plum trees can help fight the effects of radiation on the body. (1) Plum extracts have also been shown to fight breast cancer cells. (2) These are just a few of the benefits of plums.

Taxonomy

Plums grow on trees of the Prunus subgenus.

Kingdom (Plantae) –> Angiosperms –> Eudicots –> Rosids –> Order (Rosales) ¬–> Family (Rosaceae) –> Subfamily (Amygdaloideae) –> Genus (Prunus) –> Subgenus (Prunus)

Description

Plum trees can range in height from 20 to 33 feet on average. The leaves are serrated and dark green in color on top, The flowers grow in groups of 3 to 5 at the ends of branches. Depending on the variety, the plum can range in color from purple or blue to red, green, or yellow. The inside flesh can range in color from green or yellow to white or even red. Inside the fruit is a single pit-encased seed. (3)

Distribution

The two main types of plums- Japanese plums and European plums- originated in different areas of the world. The Japanese plum actually originated in China but was cultivated and developed more in Japan, hence its name. The European plum originated near the Caspian Sea in Europe. (4) They grow well in temperate climates. Plum trees require full sun and loamy soil to thrive. (5)

Nutritional Information

Plums are a good source of nutrition including important vitamins, minerals, and some dietary fiber. They are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, iron, and copper. They also have powerful antioxidants such as cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zea-xanthin. (6) They’re also high in quercetin, which enhances the health benefits of turmeric when eaten with it. (7)

Commercial Cultivation

Plums are harvested from May through October with Japanese plums being harvested from May through August and European plums being harvested from August through October. The largest producers of plums today are China, Russia, Romania, and the United States. (8)

Diseases, Pests, Predators

Plum trees are susceptible to a number if diseases and pests, including ones exclusive to plum species. Common diseases include silver leaf disease, honey fungus, bacterial canker, and pocket plum. Common pests include plum aphids and plum moths. (9)

Sources

(1) http://www.naturalnews.com/043696_black_plum_leaf_radiation_herbal_extract.html
(2) http://www.naturalnews.com/028947_breast_cancer_plum.html
(3) https://www.plantvillage.com/en/topics/plum-and-prune/infos/diseases_and_pests_description_uses_propagation
(4) http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=35
(5) http://www.almanac.com/plant/plums
(6) http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/plums.html
(7) http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/how-to-optimize-curcumin-absorption-with-golden-milk-tea-recipe/
(8) http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=35
(9) http://www.almanac.com/plant/plums