Prunus domestica

Flowering: March-April. Fruiting: June-August

Flowers bloom during February to April. Fruits ripe during August to September.

A small deciduous tree with rounded crown which grows to a height of about 6 to 15 m. It is usually thorn less and has a scaly dark brown bark. The leaves are simple and elliptic about 4 to 10 cm in length and are a matt dark green above and a lighter green below, turning yellow, orange or red in the autumn. The flowers are white or greenish white that are about 1 to 2.5 cm in diameter, that usually grows solitary or in pairs. The fruits are globose or ovoid drupes with blossom, measuring between 4 to 8 cm and are red or dark purple in colour

A small deciduous shrub, domesticated or running as wild near the homestead gardens/scrub forest. Leaves lanceolate. Flowers are bluish white in colour. Fruit is drupe and hairy above, sightly hooked or pointed apex. Green-white when unripe turn red when ripe. Inner pulp is red when mature. Smelling strongly as almond.

Notes: Western Ghats, Cultivated, Native of South West Asia

The ripe fruit is eaten raw or dried and as Jams and jellies. Wines are also made from the fruit

Nutritional Value

Energy 46 kcal; carbohydrate 11.42 gm; protein 0.70gm; total fat 0.28 gm; dietary fibres 1.4 gm; vitamin C 9.5 mg; vitamin E 0.26mg; sodium 1mg; potassium 157mg; calcium 6 mg; magnesium 7 mg; phosphorus 16mg; iron 0.17 mg & small amount of beta-carotene, per100gm

Mature fruit is eaten. Slightly acidic to sweet in taste.

Considered highly medicinal. The dried fruit, known as prunes, is a safe and effective laxative and is also good for stomach ailments. It also has antioxidant properties