Plum Blossom (Prunus mume) 梅花, a flower which produces shades of pink and white and gives off a delicate fragrance, adopted as the national flower of the Republic of China (中華民國). The flower has great symbolic value for the Chinese people because of its resilience in harsh winter weather.
The triple grouping of stamens (one long and two short) represents Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People, while the five petals symbolize the five branches of the Republic of China government.
Three Principles of the People 三民主義: nationalism 民族主義, democracy 民權主義 and social well-being 民生主義.
Five branches: Executive 行政院, Legislative 立法院, Judicial 司法院, Examination 考試院, and Control 監察院.
The plum tree blossoms in late Winter before Spring. The flowers have sweet fragrance and are pollinated by insects like bees. The flowers develop into fruits.
Different species of plum give rise to fruits of different sizes and qualities.
The plums of the ornamental varieties can be small and not tasty. Most plum trees yield good fruits.
Plums are delicious. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibres. They can be eaten raw or preserved and eaten as confectionery. They can also be used for cooking with duck or other meat.
The Differences between Plum 梅花, Peach 桃花 and Cherry 樱花
The flowers and the fruits of plum 梅, peach 桃 and cherry 樱花 look very similar.
A plum flower has 5 rounded petals, very short flower stalk.
A peach flower has 5 petals which are relatively less round and a bit pointed.
A cherry flowers has 5 petals which has a small groove at the tip of each petal.
Some ornamental varieties of plums, peaches and cherries have multiples of 5 petals.
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