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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. Peach blossoms (including nectarine), most cherry blossoms, and some almond blossoms are usually pink. Plum blossoms, apple blossoms, orange blossoms, some cherry blossoms, and most almond blossoms are white.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Blossoms provide pollen to pollinators such as bees, and initiate cross-pollination necessary for the trees to reproduce by producing fruit.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Herbal useEdit
The ancient Phoenicians used almond blossoms with honey 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In herbalism the crab apple was used as treatment for boils, abscesses, 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Descending from China and south east Asia, the earliest orange species moved westwards via the trade routes.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 17th century Italy peach blossoms were made into a poultice for bruises, rashes, eczema, grazes and stings.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In ancient Greek medicine 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Blossom festivalsEdit
Template:Nihongo is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers; in this case almost always refer to those of the Template:Nihongo or, less frequently, Template:Nihongo trees.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GalleryEdit
- Almond Blossom in Butte County (2025)-104A8325.jpg
Almond blossoms in Butte County, California
- Blackthorn in blossom.jpg
Blackthorn in blossom
- Apple Tree in Full Bloom.JPG
Apple blossoms in full bloom.
- Pear blossom.jpg
Pear blossoms in full bloom.
- Plum tree in blossom woodvale.jpg
Plum blossoms in full bloom.
- Blossom of Peach (4391499291).jpg
Peach blossoms in full bloom.
- Flowering crabapple in Washington DC.jpg
Crabapple blossoms.
- PikiWiki Israel 28684 White Lemon Blossoms.jpg
Lemon blossoms.
- Strawberry blossom.JPG
Strawberry blossoms.
- Blackberry Blossom - geograph.org.uk - 216207.jpg
Blackberry blossoms.