Prunus mume

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Cs1 config Template:Speciesbox Prunus mume, the Chinese plum or Japanese apricot, is a tree species in the family Rosaceae. Along with bamboo, the plant is intimately associated with art, literature, and everyday life in China, from where it was then introduced to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Prunus mume is also referred to by its flowers, as a plum blossom or flowering plum. Although referred to as a plum in English, is classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus making it an apricot. Mei flowers, or meihua (), which bloom in the late winter and early spring, notably during the spring festival (春節), symbolize endurance, as they are the first to bloom despite the cold; the flower is one of the Three Friends of Winter.

In East Asian cuisine (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cuisine), the fruit, known as meizi (梅子) in Chinese, is used in juices and sauces; as a flavoring for alcohol; and may be pickled or dried. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. Meihua are also appreciated for their characteristic fragrance, which is unique among apricots.

Prunus mume should not be confused with the plum Prunus salicina, a related species also grown in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, nor with the common apricot Prunus armeniaca, which is closely related under the same section.

Origin

Prunus mume originated in the region around the Yangtze River in southern China and was cultivated domestically for both its ornamental beauty and its fruit. It was later introduced to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It can be found in sparse forests, stream sides, forested slopes along trails, and mountains, sometimes at altitudes up to Template:Cvt, and regions of cultivation.

Description

Prunus mume is a deciduous tree that starts to flower in mid-winter, typically around January until late February in East Asia. It can grow to Template:Cvt tall. The flowers are Template:Cvt in diameter and have a strong fragrant scent. They have colors in varying shades of white, pink, and red. The leaves appear shortly after the petals fall, are oval-shaped with a pointed tip, and are 4–8 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide. The fruit ripens in early summer, around June and July in East Asia, and coincides with the East Asian rainy season, the meiyu (梅雨, "plum rain"). The drupe is Template:Cvt in diameter with a groove running from the stalk to the tip. The skin turns yellow, sometimes with a red blush, as it ripens, and the flesh becomes yellow. The tree is cultivated for its fruit and flowers.

• Unripe meizi
  Unripe meizi
• Washed and stemmed meizi
  Washed and stemmed meizi
• Ripe meizi
  Ripe meizi
• Meihua (Script error: No such module "Lang".) or plum blossoms
  Meihua () or plum blossoms
• Double flowering meihua
  Double flowering meihua
• Prunus mume "Peggy Clarke" blossoms
  Prunus mume "Peggy Clarke" blossoms
• Cross section of a Prunus mume trunk
  Cross section of a Prunus mume trunk
• Weeping plum tree cultivar
  Weeping plum tree cultivar
• A grove of Prunus mume
  A grove of Prunus mume

Names

Native to southern China, where it is known as mei (梅). The scientific name combines the Latin prūnus ("(European) plum tree") and the obsolete Japanese pronunciation of 梅 (mume), which is ultimately likely derived from Middle Chinese. The plant is known by a number of different names in English, including flowering plum or plum blossoms. Another misnomer, Japanese apricot, likely derives from the plant's introduction into Western knowledge by Philipp Franz von Siebold, who encountered it while living in Japan.

The flower is known as the meihua () in Chinese, which came to be translated as "plum blossom" or sometimes as "flowering plum". The term "winter plum" may be used too, specifically with regard to the depiction of the flower with its early blooming in Chinese painting. The character 梅 is a phono-semantic compound created by combining the semantic component Template:Linktext ("tree") with the phonetic component Template:Linktext (literally meaning "every," pronounced in Old Chinese, which was similar to for "plum").

In Chinese, it is called mei (梅) and the fruit is called meizi (梅子). The Japanese name is ume (うめ), while the Korean name is maesil (Korean: ; Hanja: Template:Category handler). The Japanese and Korean terms derive from Middle Chinese, in which the pronunciation is thought to have been muəi. The Vietnamese name is mai or mơ (although mai vàng refers to a different plant, Ochna integerrima, in southern Vietnam).

Varieties

File:Phylogenetic tree and ten representative traits of 348 mei accessions.jpg

Phylogenetic tree and ten representative traits

Ornamental tree varieties and cultivars of P. mume have been cultivated for planting in various gardens throughout East Asia, and for cut blossoming branches used in flower arrangements.

Chinese varieties

In China, there are over 300 recorded cultivars of Prunus mume. These are classified by phylogenetics (P. mume and two hybrids) in branches, type of branches in groups, and characteristics of flowers in several forms:

• Zhizhimei Lei () [Upright Mei Group], Prunus mume var. typica
  • Pinzimei Xing () [Pleiocarpa Form]
  • Jiangmei Xing () [Single Flowered Form]
  • Gongfen Xing () [Pink Double Form]
  • Yudie Xing () [Alboplena Form]
  • Huangxiang Xing () [Flavescens Form]
  • Lü'e Xing () [Green Calyx Form]
  • Sajin Xing () [Versicolor Form]
  • Zhusha Xing () [Cinnabar Purple Form]
• Chuizhimei Lei () [Pendulous Mei Group], Prunus mume var. pendula
  • Fenhua Chuizhi Xing () [Pink Pendulous Form]
  • Wubao Chuizhi Xing () [Versicolor Pendulous Form]
  • Canxue Chuizhi Xing () [Albiflora Pendulous Form]
  • Baibi Chuizhi Xing () [Viridiflora Pendulous Form]
  • Guhong Chuizhi Xing () [Atropurpurea Pendulous Form]
• Longyoumei Lei () [Tortuous Dragon Group], Prunus mume var. tortuosa
• Xingmei Lei () [Apricot Mei Group], Prunus mume var. bungo
• Yinglimei Lei () [Blireiana Group], Prunus × blireana, Prunus cerasifera 'Pissardii' × Prunus mume Alphandii

It is disputed whether Prunus zhengheensis (Template:Zh) is a separate species or conspecific with Prunus mume. It is found in the Fujian province of China. It is only known from one county, Zhenghe. It is a tree Template:Cvt tall, preferring to grow at Template:Cvt above sea level. The yellow fruit is delectable and aside from its height, it is indistinguishable from P. mume.

Japanese varieties

In Japan, ornamental Prunus mume cultivars are classified into yabai (wild), hibai (red), and bungo (Bungo Province) types. The bungo trees are also grown for fruit and are hybrids between Prunus mume and apricot. The hibai trees have red heartwood and most of them have red flowers. The yabai trees are also used as grafting stock. Among yabai trees, Nankoume is a very popular variety in Japan, and whose fruits are mainly used for making umeboshi.

Uses

Culinary use

Beverage

Template:Multiple image In China, suanmeitang (; "sour plum juice") is made from smoked plums, called wumei (). The plum juice is extracted by boiling smoked plums in water and sweetened with sugar to make suanmeitang. It ranges from light pinkish-orange to purplish black in colour and often has a smoky and slightly salty taste. It is traditionally flavoured with sweet osmanthus flowers, and is enjoyed chilled, usually in summer.

In Korea, both the flowers and the fruits are used to make tea. Maehwa-cha (; "plum blossom tea") is made by infusing the flowers in hot water. Maesil-cha (; "plum tea") is made by mixing water with maesil-cheong (plum syrup) and is served either hot or cold.

In Japan, a similar drink is made from green plums and tastes sweet and tangy, is considered a cold, refreshing drink, and is often enjoyed in the summer.

Condiment

A thick, sweet Chinese sauce called meijiang () or meizijiang (), usually translated as "plum sauce", is also made from the plums, along with other ingredients such as sugar, vinegar, salt, ginger, chili, and garlic. Similar to duck sauce, it is used as a condiment for various Chinese dishes, including poultry dishes and egg rolls.

In Korea, maesil-cheong (, "plum syrup"), a syrup made by sugaring ripe plums, is used as a condiment and sugar substitute. It can be made by simply mixing plums and sugar together, and then leaving them for about 100 days. To make syrup, the ratio of sugar to plum should be at least 1:1 to prevent fermentation, by which the liquid may turn into plum wine. The plums can be removed after 100 days, and the syrup can be consumed right away, or mature for a year or more.

Flower pancake

File:Maehwajeon.jpg

Maehwa-jeon

In Korea, hwajeon (; "flower pancake") can be made with plum blossoms. Called maehwa-jeon (; "plum blossom pancake"), the pancake dish is usually sweet, with honey as an ingredient.

Liquor

Template:Multiple image Plum liquor, also known as plum wine, is popular in both Japan and Korea, and is also produced in China. Umeshu (; "plum wine") is a Japanese alcoholic drink made by steeping green plums in shōchū (clear liquor). It is sweet and smooth. A similar liquor in Korea, called maesil-ju (; "plum wine"), is marketed under various brand names, including Mae hwa soo, Matchsoon, and Seoljungmae. Both the Japanese and Korean varieties of plum liquor are available with whole plum fruits contained in the bottle. In China, plum wine is called méijiǔ ().

In Taiwan, a popular 1950s innovation over the Japanese-style plum wine is the wumeijiu (; "smoked plum liquor"), which is made by mixing two types of plum liquor, meijiu () made of P. mume and lijiu (), made of P. salicina, and oolong tea liquor.

In Vietnam, ripe plums are macerated in sticky rice liquor. The resulting liquor is called . A brand selling plum liquor is Sơn Tinh.

Pickled and preserved plums

In Chinese cuisine, plums pickled with vinegar and salt are called suanmeizi (; "sour plum fruits"), and have an intensely sour and salty flavour. They are generally made from unripe plum fruits. Huamei () are Chinese preserved plums and refer to Chinese plums pickled in sugar, salt, and herbs. There are two general varieties: a dried variety, and a wet (pickled) variety.

Umeboshi () are pickled and dried plums. They are a Japanese specialty. Pickled with coarse salt, they are quite salty and sour, and therefore eaten sparingly. They are often red in colour when purple shiso leaves are used. Plums used for making umeboshi are harvested in late May or early June, while they are ripe enough in yellow, and layered with much salt. They are weighed down with a heavy stone (or some more modern implement) until late August. They are then dried in the sun on bamboo mats for several days (they are returned to the salt at night). The flavonoid pigment in shiso leaves gives them their distinctive colour and a richer flavour. Umeboshi are generally eaten with rice as part of a bento (boxed lunch), although they may also be used in makizushi (rolled sushi). Umeboshi are also used as a popular filling for rice balls (onigiri) wrapped in nori. Makizushi made with plums may be made with either umeboshi or bainiku (umeboshi paste), often in conjunction with green shiso leaves. A byproduct of umeboshi production is umeboshi vinegar, a salty, sour condiment.

In Korea, there is 'maesil-jangajji' which is similar to 'umeboshi'. It is a common side dish in Korea.

A very similar variety of pickled plum, or is used in Vietnamese cuisine. The best fruit for this are from the forest around the Hương Pagoda in Hà Tây Province.

Traditional medicine

Prunus mume is a common fruit in Asia and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Cultural significance

Plum blossoms have been well-loved and celebrated across the East Asian cultural sphere, beginning in China and later introduced to Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.

East Asia

Chinese

File:Manual of Plum Blossom Painting.jpg

Manual of Plum Blossom Painting, by Song Dynasty painter Song Boren

The plum blossom, which is known as the meihua (), is one of the most beloved flowers in China and has been frequently depicted in Chinese art and poetry for centuries. The plum blossom is seen as a symbol of winter and a harbinger of spring. The blossoms are so beloved because they are viewed as blooming most vibrantly amidst the winter snow, exuding an ethereal elegance, while their fragrance is noticed to still subtly pervade the air at even the coldest times of the year. Therefore, the plum blossom came to symbolize perseverance and hope, as well as beauty, purity, and the transitoriness of life. In Confucianism, the plum blossom stands for the principles and values of virtue. More recently, it has also been used as a metaphor to symbolize revolutionary struggle since the turn of the 20th century.

Because it blossoms in the cold winter, the plum blossom is regarded as one of the "Three Friends of Winter", along with pine, and bamboo. The plum blossom is also regarded as one of the "Four Gentlemen" of flowers in Chinese art, together with the orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. It is one of the "Flowers of the Four Seasons", which consist of the orchid (spring), the lotus (summer), the chrysanthemum (autumn) and the plum blossom (winter). These groupings are seen repeatedly in the Chinese aesthetic of art, painting, literature, and garden design.

An example of the plum blossom's literary significance is found in the life and work of poet Lin Bu () of the Song dynasty (960–1279). For much of his later life, Lin Bu lived in quiet reclusion on a cottage by West Lake in Hangzhou, China. According to stories, he loved plum blossoms and cranes so much that he considered the plum blossom of Solitary Hill at West Lake as his wife and the cranes of the lake as his children, thus he could live peacefully in solitude. One of his most famous poems is "Little Plum Blossom of Hill Garden" (). The Chinese text, as well as a translation, follows: Template:Verse translation

As with the literary culture amongst the educated of the time, Lin Bu's poems were discussed in several Song dynasty era commentaries on poetry. Wang Junqing remarked after quoting the third and fourth line: "This is from Lin Hejing's [Lin Bu's] plum blossom poem. Yet these lines might just as well be applied to the flowering apricot, peach, or pear."—a comparison of the flowers with the plum blossom to which the renowned Song dynasty poet Su Dongpo () replied, "Well, yes, they might. But I'm afraid the flowers of those other trees wouldn't presume to accept such praise." Plum blossoms inspired many people of the era.

File:畫麗珠萃秀 Gathering Gems of Beauty (宋壽陽公主) 2.jpg

Princess Shouyang, who is prominently featured in a Chinese legend about plum blossoms

Legend has it that once on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, while Princess Shouyang (), daughter of Emperor Wu of Liu Song (), was resting under the eaves of Hanzhang Palace near the plum trees after wandering in the gardens, a plum blossom drifted down onto her fair face, leaving a floral imprint on her forehead that enhanced her beauty further. The court ladies were said to be so impressed that they started decorating their own foreheads with a small delicate plum blossom design. This is also the mythical origin of the floral fashion, meihua chuang (梅花妝; literally "plum blossom makeup"), that originated in the Southern Dynasties (420–589) and became popular amongst ladies in the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties. The markings of plum blossom designs on the foreheads of court ladies were usually made with paintlike materials such as sorghum powder, gold powder, paper, jade, and other tint substances. Princess Shouyang is celebrated as the goddess of the plum blossom in Chinese culture.

During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the garden designer Ji Cheng wrote his definitive garden architecture monograph Yuanye and in it, he described the plum tree as the "beautiful woman of the forest and moon". The appreciation of nature at night plays an important role in Chinese gardens. For this reason, there are classical pavilions for the tradition of viewing plum blossoms by the moonlight. The flowers are viewed and enjoyed by many as annual plum blossom festivals take place in the blooming seasons of the meihua. The festivals take place throughout China (for example, West Lake in Hangzhou and scenic spots near Zijin Mountain in Nanjing, amongst other places). Plum blossoms are often used as decoration during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and remain popular in the miniature gardening plants of the art of penjing. Branches of plum blossoms are often arranged in porcelain or ceramic vases, such as the meiping (literally "plum vase"). These vases can hold single branches of plum blossoms and have been traditionally used to display the blossoms in a home since the early Song dynasty (960–1279).

The Moy Yat lineage of Wing Chun kung fu uses a red plum flower blossom as its symbol. The plum blossoms are featured on one of the four flowers that appear on mahjong tile sets, where mei () is usually simply translated as "plum" in English.

It has been suggested that the Japanese practice of hanami may have originated from the Chinese custom of enjoying poetry and wine underneath plum blossom trees while viewing their flowers, that was replicated by Japanese elites. This is supported by the fact that hanami started in urban areas rather than rural areas, that Japanese people initially admired plum blossoms like the Chinese rather than cherry blossoms, and that classic Japanese poetry does not associate cherry blossoms with merriness.

File:China Airlines Lineup TPE.jpg

Plum blossoms painted on China Airlines aircraft tails.

The National Flower of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was officially designated as the plum blossom (Prunus Mei; Template:Zh) by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China on July 21, 1964. The plum blossom is the symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity during the harsh winter. The triple grouping of stamens (three stamens per petal) on the national emblem represents Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People, while the five petals symbolize the five branches of the government. It also serves as the logo of China Airlines, the national carrier of Taiwan (the Republic of China). The flower is featured on some New Taiwan dollar coins.

Korean

In Korea, the plum blossom is a symbol for spring. It is a popular flower motif, amongst other flowers, for Korean embroidery. Maebyong are plum vases derived from the Chinese meiping and are traditionally used to hold branches of plum blossoms in Korea. Korean ceramist Master Kim Se-yong incorporates the blossom into many of his openwork celadon vases.

Also, during Korean Empire period, the plum blossom became the imperial seal and royal official flower. Since ancient times, plum blossom has been filled with meaning and mystery. Plum blossoms bloom at the end of the winter, and because of this, they are called the herald of spring. They also symbolize perseverance because of how they can possibly bloom during the cold winter. Since they are considered the first flower of the year, they also represent purity and renewal. Plum flowers have five petals which are believed to carry 5 different blessings such as: wealth, health, virtue, peaceful and natural death.

Japanese

Plum blossoms are often mentioned in Japanese poetry as a symbol of spring, as well as elegance and purity. When used in haiku or renga, they are a kigo or season word for early spring. The blossoms are associated with the Japanese bush warbler and are depicted together on one of the twelve suits of hanafuda (Japanese playing cards). Plum blossoms were favored during the Nara period (710–794) until the emergence of the Heian period (794–1185), in which the cherry blossom was preferred.

Japanese tradition holds that the ume functions as a protective charm against evil, so the ume is traditionally planted in the northeast of the garden, the direction from which evil is believed to come. The eating of the pickled fruit for breakfast is also supposed to stave off misfortune.

The tradition of hanami was originally performed with plum blossoms rather than cherry blossoms as is common today. The specific custom of viewing plum blossoms in Japan is now called umemi (梅見, plum-viewing).

Southeast Asia

Vietnamese

In Vietnam, due to the beauty of the tree and its flowers, the word mai is used to name girls. The largest hospital in Hanoi is named Bạch Mai (white plum blossom), another hospital in Hanoi is named Mai Hương ("the scent of plum"), situated in Hồng Mai (pink plum blossom) street. Hoàng Mai (yellow plum blossom) is the name of a district in Hanoi. Bạch Mai is also a long and old street in Hanoi. All these places are located in the south part of Hanoi, where, in the past, many P. mume trees were grown.

See also

• Chinese garden
• Chinese cuisine
• Japanese cuisine
• Korean cuisine
• Vietnamese cuisine
• Prunus salicina
• Greengage
• Typhoon Muifa, various typhoons named for the Macanese form of the Chinese word for the plum blossom

External links

• China Online Museum: Chinese Plum Blossom
• NPGS/GRIN – Prunus mume information
• NDSU: A good history – Prunus mume
• USDA Plant Profile for Prunus mume (Japanese apricot)