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In botany, blossoms are the flowers of stone fruit trees (genus '' Prunus'') and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring.
Colloquially, flowers of orange are referred to as such as well.
The ancient Phoenicians used almond blossoms with 
Descending from China and south east Asia, the earliest orange species moved westwards via the trade routes.
In 17th century Italy peach blossoms were made into a poultice for bruises, rashes, eczema, grazes and stings.
In
File:Blackthorn in blossom.jpg, Blackthorn in blossom
File:Apple Tree in Full Bloom.JPG, Apple blossoms in full bloom.
File:Pear blossom.jpg, Pear blossoms in full bloom.
File:Plum tree in blossom woodvale.jpg, Plum blossoms in full bloom.
File:Blossom of Peach (4391499291).jpg, Peach blossoms in full bloom.
File:Flowering crabapple in Washington DC.jpg, Crabapple blossoms.
File:PikiWiki Israel 28684 White Lemon Blossoms.jpg, Lemon blossoms.
File:Strawberry blossom.JPG,
In botany, blossoms are the flowers of stone fruit trees (genus '' Prunus'') and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring.
Colloquially, flowers of orange are referred to as such as well. Peach blossoms
Peach Blossoms were a candy made by Necco at The New England Confectionery Co. in Revere, Massachusetts. They contained peanut butter wrapped in a crunchy shell. Contrary to their name and color, the flavor did not imitate that of a peach. They ...
(including nectarine), most cherry blossom
A cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or sakura, is a flower of many trees of genus ''Prunus'' or ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus''. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especially in Japan. They generally ...
s, and some almond blossoms
''Almond Blossoms'' is a group of several paintings made in 1888 and 1890 by Vincent van Gogh in Arles and Saint-Rémy, southern France of blossoming almond trees. Flowering trees were special to van Gogh. They represented awakening and hope. ...
are usually pink. Plum blossoms
''Prunus mume'' is an East Asian and Southeast Asian tree species classified in the ''Armeniaca'' section of the genus '' Prunus'' subgenus ''Prunus''. Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The flower, ...
, apple blossoms
''Apple Blossoms'' is a 1919 operetta with music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi; and a libretto by William LeBaron. The show is an adaptation of the book ''Un Marriage sous Louis XV'' by Alexander Dumas.
''Apple Blossoms'' opened at the Gl ...
, orange blossoms, some cherry blossoms, and most almond blossoms are white.
Blossoms provide pollen
Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...
to pollinator
A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower. This helps to bring about fertilization of the ovules in the flower by the male gametes from the pollen grains.
Insects are the maj ...
s such as bees, and initiate cross- pollination necessary for the trees to reproduce by producing fruit.
Herbal use
The ancient Phoenicians used almond blossoms with honey
Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
and urine as a tonic, and sprinkled them into stews and gruels to give muscular strength. Crushed petals were also used as a poultice on skin spots and mixed with banana oil, for dry skin and sunburn.
In herbalism the crab apple was used as treatment for boils, abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body. Signs and symptoms of abscesses include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The swelling may feel fluid-filled when pressed. The area of redness often extends b ...
es, splinters, wounds, coughs, colds and a host of other ailments ranging from acne to kidney ailments. Many dishes made with apples and apple blossom are of medieval origin. In the spring, monks and physicians would gather the blossoms and preserve them in vinegar for drawing poultices and for bee stings and other insect bites. Descending from China and south east Asia, the earliest orange species moved westwards via the trade routes.
In 17th century Italy peach blossoms were made into a poultice for bruises, rashes, eczema, grazes and stings.
In ancient Greek medicine
Ancient Greek medicine was a compilation of theories and practices that were constantly expanding through new ideologies and trials. Many components were considered in ancient Greek medicine, intertwining the spiritual with the physical. Specifi ...
plum blossoms were used to treat bleeding gums, mouth ulcers and tighten loose teeth. Plum blossoms mixed with sage leaves and flowers were used in plum wine or plum brandy as a mouthwash to soothe sore throats and mouth ailments and sweeten bad breath.
Blossom festivals
is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers; in this case almost always refer to those of the or, less frequently, trees. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the National Trust organises the environmental awareness campaign #BlossomWatch, which is designed to raise awareness of the first signs of Spring, by encouraging people to share images of blossoms via social media.Gallery
Strawberry
The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus '' Fragaria'', collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely ap ...
blossoms.
File:Blackberry Blossom - geograph.org.uk - 216207.jpg, Blackberry blossoms.
File:شکوفه زردآلو، بهبهان .jpg, alt=Apricot Blossom in Behbahan, Iran, Apricot Blossom in Behbahan, Iran
File:شکوفه درخت کنار، بهبهان.jpg, alt=Ziziphus Blossom in Behbahan, Iran, Ziziphus Blossom in Behbahan, Iran
See also
* Fragrance extractionReferences
External links
* * {{cite news, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17341878 , work=BBC Nature , title= In Pictures: Your blossoming spring + Plants