Prunus simonii facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prunus simonii
Simon plum fruit and leaves
Scientific classification
Genus:	Prunus
Species:	simonii

The Prunus simonii, also known as the apricot plum or Simon plum, is a special kind of tree. It belongs to the Prunus group, which includes plums, cherries, and apricots. This tree was first described in 1872 by Elie-Abel Carrière.

It originally comes from the Hebei province in China. However, you won't find it growing wild in nature today. This tree has been very important for creating new types of commercial plums. Scientists have crossed it with other Prunus trees to make better fruits.

The tree is named after Gabriel Eugène Simon. He was a French botanist and diplomat. In the 1860s, he sent seeds of this tree to the Paris Museum. By 1881, the Simon plum became well-known in the United States.

What Does the Simon Plum Look Like?

The Prunus simonii is a small tree. It loses its leaves in the fall, just like many other trees. It can grow to be about 6 meters (20 feet) tall.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the Simon plum produce very little pollen. This means they don't help much with pollination. The fruit itself can be different. Sometimes it tastes bitter, and sometimes it's nice to eat.

The fruit has a unique flat shape. It looks a bit like a tomato. The skin is usually dark red or "brick red." Inside, the fruit flesh sticks very tightly to the pit, much like an apricot. The taste is often described as bitter. Also, the tree does not produce a huge amount of fruit.

Branches and Leaves

The branches of the Simon plum are thin. Its leaves are long and narrow. The fruit has a strong, pleasant smell. It smells much more fragrant than the Prunus salicina, which is another type of plum. This nice smell comes from a special chemical called hexyl acetate. This is the same chemical that gives apples their aroma.

How is the Simon Plum Used?

The Simon plum has been very important for creating new types of plums. A famous plant breeder named Luther Burbank worked a lot with this tree.

Creating New Plum Varieties

Luther Burbank spent much time crossing the Simon plum with the Japanese plum (Prunus salicina). From these crosses, he developed many new types of plums. One of his most famous creations was a plum called 'Climax'. This plum was very important for shipping fruit from California.

Other well-known plum types that Burbank developed using P. simonii include:

• 'Maynard'
• 'Chalco'
• 'Santa Rosa'
• 'Formosa'

These new plums, along with the European plum (Prunus cerasifera), have given us most of the modern Japanese-style plums we eat today. Some native American plums, like P. americana, P. angustifolia, and P. munsoniana, have also contributed a little to these new varieties.

See also

In Spanish: Prunus simonii para niños