What are the characteristics of plum blossoms?
This explanation for netizens about the characteristics of plum blossoms and the description of their appearance features in the field of green plants and flowers will definitely bring you help. Let's learn about it together!
Plum blossoms belong to the Rosaceae family, Prunus genus, and are deciduous trees. They sometimes also refer to their fruit (plum) or flower (plum blossom), usually blooming in the winter and spring seasons. They are listed together with orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums as the "Four Gentlemen" and also with pine and bamboo as the "Three Companions of Winter," representing the flower of winter with their cold-resistant characteristics. Let's take a look at the characteristics of plum blossoms together!
The physical features of plum blossoms
Plum trees are small trees or rarely shrubs, 4-10 meters tall, with light gray or greenish bark, green branches, ovate or elliptical leaves, pointed tips, wide楔-shaped to rounded bases, and leaf edges often with small sharp serrations. The flowers are solitary or sometimes two flowers grow from one bud, with a strong fragrance, blooming before the leaves, short pedicels, usually brown sepals, wide bell-shaped sepal tubes, ovate or nearly round sepals, and ovoid petals that range from white to pink. The fruit is nearly spherical, sour in taste, the flesh sticks to the stone, the stone is elliptical, the flowering period is winter and spring, and the fruiting period is May to June (in North China, the fruiting period extends to July to August).
The growth characteristics of plum blossoms
Plum blossoms prefer a warm climate and do not have strong cold resistance. Apart from the apricot plum variety that can withstand -25°C low temperatures, most can endure -10°C low temperatures, are relatively drought-resistant, do not tolerate flooding, have a long lifespan, reaching up to a thousand years. The flowering period is particularly sensitive to climate changes, prefers higher air humidity but dislikes heavy rain. They can tolerate high temperatures, growing even at 40°C, and develop best in areas with an average annual temperature of 16-23°C. They are very sensitive to temperature, blooming when the average early spring temperature reaches -5 to 7°C. If they encounter low temperatures, the flowering period is delayed, and if they bloom and encounter low temperatures, the flowering period can be extended.
The spiritual characteristics of plum blossoms
1. Plum blossoms are the first to bloom in severe cold, then lead to the fragrance of numerous flowers, so like chrysanthemums, plum blossoms are revered and praised by poets. Chen Liang of the Song Dynasty wrote in his poem "Plum Blossoms": "One bloom suddenly changes, and all flowers follow with fragrance." The poet highlights the characteristic of plum blossoms blooming first, expressing the quality of being unafraid of打击挫折 and daring to be the first in the world, both praising plum blossoms and himself. Wang Anshi wrote in his poem "Plum Blossoms": "From afar, I know it is not snow, because of the faint fragrance." The lines not only describe the plum blossoms' fragrance carried by the wind but also imply their purity and whiteness, achieving an artistic effect of fragrance and color. Lu You's famous ci poem "Ode to Plum Blossoms": "Crushed into dust, only the fragrance remains." Uses plum blossoms as a metaphor for his unfortunate experiences and noble character of not conforming to the world. Wang Mian of the Yuan Dynasty wrote in his poem "Ink Plum Blossoms": "Do not praise the beauty of the color, only let the clear fragrance fill the universe." This also reflects his unwillingness to conform to the world through the ice-clear and jade-pure plum blossoms, with simple words but profound meaning.
2. Plum blossoms continue to bloom resilience in the cold winter, symbolizing our nation's indomitable, tenacious struggle, and invaluable quality of not fearing difficulties, all of which are well reflected in them. Ancient poets have praised plum blossoms in their poems: "Plum blossoms in the corner of the wall, blooming alone in the cold. From afar, I know it is not snow, because of the faint fragrance." Plum blossoms are also considered the most upright species of flowers. Moreover, although the growing environment is harsh, they still bloom happily, expressing an optimistic character of welcoming hope. Since ancient times, people have praised their spirit of braving the snow and their noble beauty of not competing with other flowers for spring.
Do you know the characteristics of plum blossoms and the detailed description of their appearance features introduced above for you?