Cvet japanske kajsije

Plum blossom is the flower of Prunus mume, known by the common name Chinese plum. Despite the name, the tree is classified in the Armeniaca section of Prunus, which makes it an apricot. The species originated in the region around the Yangtze River in southern China, and the plant was introduced from China to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.

Prunus mume is a deciduous tree that starts to flower in mid-winter, typically around January until late February in East Asia. The flowers are 2-2.5 cm in diameter and have colors in varying shades of white, pink, and red. The plum blossom is a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, because plum blossoms often bloom most vibrantly even amidst the harsh winter snow. Mei flowers, or meihua, symbolize endurance, as they are the first to bloom despite the cold. The flower is one of the Three Friends of Winter. In Korea, the plum blossom is a symbol for spring. The plant is of high cultural importance to China.

In Chinese art, the Four Gentlemen is a collective term for four plants: the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum. Among them the plum blossom stands for winter.

Compared to other species of Prunus, mei has a unique floral scent. Benzyl acetate and eugenol are the main components of the floral scent of Prunus mume. In the cultivars studied, the main components in most varieties were considered to be benzyl acetate (1.55-61.26%), eugenol (0.87-6.03%), benzaldehyde (5.34-46.46%), benzyl alcohol (5.13-57.13%), chavicol (0-5.46%), and cinnamyl alcohol (0-6.49%). Phenylpropanoids and benzenoids are the main categories of volatile organic compounds in the flowers. Most varieties of apricot mei, a hybrid of Prunus mume and Prunus sibirica, lack the characteristic floral scent of P. mume.

Benzaldehyde has a characteristic odor similar to that of bitter almonds and cherry. Benzyl acetate has a pleasant sweet aroma reminiscent of jasmine. Eugenol has a pleasant, spicy, clove-like scent.

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