The peach (Prunus persica) is a deciduous tree known for its sweet, juicy fruit. Nectarines are a smooth-skinned variety of the same species, though they are often treated as a separate fruit commercially. Originating in China, peaches were first cultivated during the Neolithic period before spreading to Persia and then Europe. The tree has a short lifespan, usually under twenty years, and produces flowers in early spring that range in color from white to red. Fruits can vary in shape and color, from pale yellow to deep orange with a reddish blush.
Beyond its agricultural value, the peach holds deep cultural symbolism across Asia. In China, it represents vitality and longevity, appearing in myths, medicine, and festivals. The god of longevity, Shòu Xīng, is often shown holding a peach, and peach-shaped buns are served on birthdays to wish for a long life. In Korea and Japan, the fruit is also linked to immortality and purity, featuring in folklore such as the story of Momotarō, the “Peach Boy.” In Vietnam, blooming peach trees symbolize spring and are important during the New Year celebration, Tết.
In the United States, the peach has become a regional emblem of Southern agriculture. South Carolina and Georgia both honor it as their state fruit, while Delaware and Alabama also recognize it in state symbols.
桃是一種落葉喬木，以其香甜多汁的果實而聞名。油桃與桃雖屬同一個品種，但果皮光滑，在商業上被視為兩種不同的水果。桃樹原產於中國，早在新石器時代就開始栽培，之後傳到波斯，最終傳入歐洲。桃樹壽命較短，通常不到 20 年，早春開花，花色從白色到紅色不等。果實形狀和顏色也各不相同，從淡黃色到帶有紅暈的深橙色都有。
除了農業價值外，桃子在亞洲各地還蘊含著深厚的文化象徵意義。在中國，桃子像徵著生命力和長壽，出現在神話、醫學和節日慶典中。壽仙(南極老人壽德星君)常被描繪成手捧桃子的形象，人們在生日時會享用壽桃以祈求長壽。在韓國和日本，桃子也與永生和純潔聯繫在一起，出現在「桃太郎」的故事等民間傳說中。在越南，盛開的桃樹象徵春天，在新年慶祝活動－春節（Tết）中扮演著重要的角色。
在美國，桃子已成為南方農業的象徵。南卡羅來納州和喬治亞州都將其定為州果，德拉瓦州和阿拉巴馬州也在州徽中體現了桃子的象徵意義。
‘Early Pink’ 早雙粉紅
‘Early Double Pink’ is a very early-blooming pink variety of flowering peach tree. It is grown primarily for its blossoms, which appear between late winter and early spring but can be damaged by early frosts. The fruit is either absent or inedible. Many Prunus persica trees were planted along the path near the Court of Assembled Worthies (集賢院) in the Chinese Garden, Liu Fang Yuan (流芳園), at The Huntington Library.
「早雙粉紅」是一種開花非常早的粉紅色桃樹品種。它主要因其花朵而栽培，花期在冬末春初，但易受早霜損害。果實要麼不結果，要麼不能食用。在亨廷頓圖書館的中國花園－流芳園中，集賢院附近的小徑旁種植了許多桃樹。
‘Early Red’ 早紅桃
Prunus persica ‘Early Red’ commonly known as Early Red Flowering Peach. ‘Early Red’ blooms very early. It has vivid purplish-red double flowers and small, sweet, light green-skinned fruit.
「早紅桃」開花極早，花朵呈現鮮豔的紫紅色重瓣狀，果實小巧香甜，果皮呈淺綠色。
‘Early White’ 早白桃
Prunus persica ‘Early White’ commonly known as Early White Flowering Peach. ‘Early Double White’ blooms very early. It has spectacular, large, snow-white double blossoms. One of the showiest of all flowering trees.
早白桃，花期極早，重瓣花碩大，潔白如雪，十分艷麗，是所有開花樹木中最引人注目的品種之一。
var. nucipersica ‘Alma Stultz’ 油桃/桃駁李
Var. nectarina, commonly called nectarine, is a smooth-skinned peach. Fruit color is gold/yellow or red/burgundy. The flesh can be either yellow or white with delicate aroma, and clingstone or freestone. Usually, nectarines are a little bit smaller but sweeter than peaches, the skin is more reddish. The five-petal, solid or paired pink flowers bloom early in spring, before leaf sprouts. This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus).
油桃又稱桃駁李，是一種表皮光滑的桃子。果實顏色為金黃色或紅色/酒紅色。果肉可以是黃色或白色，帶有淡淡的香氣，果核可以是黏核或離核。通常，油桃比桃子略小，但更甜，果皮顏色更紅。五瓣粉紅色花朵在早春葉片萌發前開放，花朵可以是單瓣或成對的。它是美洲虎紋鳳蝶幼蟲的寄主植物。
'Peppermint' or 'Versicolour' 薄荷桃或變色桃
The 'Peppermint' flowering peach tree (Prunus persica 'Peppermint') is a striking ornamental tree known for its unique multi-colored, double-petaled flowers that appear in early spring. The blossoms feature a variable assortment of white, pink, and rose-red stripes, blotches, and solid colors, making each flower unique.
薄荷桃或變色桃是一種引人注目的觀賞樹木，以其獨特的多色重瓣花朵而聞名，這些花朵在早春盛開。花朵上呈現白色、粉紅色和玫瑰紅色條紋、斑點和純色交錯的圖案，使得每一朵花都獨一無二。
'Alboplena' 千瓣白桃
Prunus persica 'Alboplena' is an ornamental peach tree known for its showy, double white flowers that bloom in early to mid-spring. It is a low-maintenance, deciduous tree that typically grows to about 4 meters (12-13 feet) tall.
千瓣白桃是一種觀賞性桃樹，以其艷麗的重瓣白色花朵而聞名，花朵在早春至仲春盛開。它是一種易於養護的落葉喬木，通常可長到約 4 公尺（12-13英尺）高。
Notes 筆記
- The peach is a deciduous tree that bears edible, juicy fruits. The glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties are called nectarines. Though from the same species, they are regarded commercially as different fruits. It is relatively short-lived, usually not exceeding twenty years of age.
- The genus name Prunus is derived from the Latin word for “plum,” which is part of the rose family. The specific name persica refers to its widespread cultivation in Persia (modern-day Iran), from where it was introduced to Europe.
- Peaches were first domesticated and cultivated in China during the Neolithic period. The history of the nectarine is unclear; the first recorded mention in English is from 1611, but it had probably been grown much earlier within the native range of the peach in central and eastern Asia.
- Flowers may range in shades from white to red. Trees grown as ornamentals may also have double, semi-double, or bicolored flowers. The bloom period occurs in early spring, often cut short by frost, typically from February to May depending on location. In New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere, blooming occurs from August to October.
- Trees can begin producing fruit two or three years after sprouting. Fruits range in color from greenish white to orange-yellow, usually with a blush of red on the side most exposed to the sun. Their shape varies widely, from a flattened, doughnut-like sphere to an egg shape or a slightly compressed sphere, usually with a seam on one side.
- Peach as a Symbol in Cultural Traditions
- China:
- The ancient Chinese believed the peach possessed more vitality than any other tree because its blossoms appeared before its leaves.
- When early rulers of China visited their territories, they were preceded by sorcerers armed with peach rods to protect them from evil spirits.
- On New Year’s Eve, local magistrates would cut peach wood branches and place them over their doors to ward off malevolent influences.
- Peach wood was also used for the earliest known door gods during the Han dynasty.
- Peach kernels (tao ren, 桃仁) are a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, used to dispel blood stasis and unblock the bowels.
- The deity Shòu Xīng (壽星), the god of longevity, is usually depicted with a large forehead, holding a staff in his left hand and a peach in his right, symbolizing long life. A traditional birthday food for elders is the symbolic longevity peach (shòutáo bāo, 壽桃包), a lotus seed bun shaped like a peach, common in Taiwanese and Cantonese cultures.
- Japan:
- The world’s sweetest peaches are grown in Japan.
- Momotarō (“Peach Boy”) is a folktale hero born from a giant peach.
- Two traditional Japanese words for the color pink correspond to blossoming trees: momo-iro for peach blossoms and sakura-iro for cherry blossoms.
- Korea:
- Originating from Daoism, the peach is one of the ten symbols of longevity used in Korean art.
- Wands made of peach wood are used in certain Korean shamanistic practices.
- Vietnam:
- In The Tale of Kiều, the protagonists fall in love beneath a peach tree, and in Vietnam, the blossoming peach flower is a signal of spring.
- Peach bonsai trees are used as decorations during Vietnamese New Year (Tết) in northern Vietnam.
- United States:
- South Carolina named the peach its state fruit in 1984.
- Georgia made the peach its official state fruit in 1995.
- Delaware designated the peach blossom as its state flower in 1953 and peach pie as its official dessert in 2009.
- Alabama named the peach its state tree fruit in 2006.
- 桃樹是落葉喬木，結出可食用的多汁果實。表皮光滑無毛的品種稱為油桃。雖然它們屬於同一物種，但在商業上被視為不同的水果。桃樹壽命相對較短，通常不超過二十年。
- 李屬（Prunus）的屬名源自拉丁語，李子屬於薔薇科。種名 persica 指的是其在波斯（今伊朗）的普遍栽培，它是從波斯傳入歐洲的。
- 桃子最早於新石器時代在中國被人工培植和栽培。油桃的歷史尚不清楚；英文文獻中最早提及油桃是在 1611 年，但它可能在桃子的原產地——中亞和東亞地區——更早之前就已經被種植了。
- 花朵顏色從白色到紅色不等。作為觀賞植物栽培的樹木也可能開重瓣、半重瓣或雙色花。花期在早春，常因霜凍而縮短，一般為二月至五月，具體時間因地域而異。在新西蘭和南半球，花期為八月至十月。
- 樹苗發芽兩三年後即可結果。果實顏色從綠白色到橙黃色不等，通常向陽面會略帶紅色。果實形狀也多種多樣，從扁平的甜甜圈狀球體到卵形或略微扁平的球形，通常一側有一條縫。
- 桃子在文化傳統中的象徵意義
- 中國:
- 古代中國人認為桃樹比其他任何樹木都更有生命力，因為它的花朵先於葉子開放。
- 中國早期統治者巡視領土時，總會有巫師手持桃杖先行一步，以保護他們免受邪靈侵擾。
- 除夕夜，地方官吏會砍下桃樹枝，掛在門上，驅邪避兇。
- 漢代最早的門神也是用桃木製作的。相傳東海東少山上住著神荼、鬱壘二位神仙，手持桃枝，專司捉妖拿邪。通常在門外掛有桃木符或桃木做的對聯。
- 桃仁是傳統中藥中常見的成分，用於祛瘀通便。
- 古代傳說經常提到桃是一種可以延年益壽的水果。壽星，這位長壽之神，通常被描繪成額頭寬闊，左手持杖，右手托桃，象徵長壽。壽桃是台灣和廣東地區常見的傳統生日食品，用蓮子做成的，形狀像桃子，是長壽的象徵。《西遊記》中孫悟空在天界看管的桃園，出產的蟠桃人吃了可以立刻成仙。
- 中國俗語裡的「桃李滿天下」則以「桃花」、「李花」比喻生徒濟濟，教育的碩果纍纍。
- 桃花在中國文化中則多與愛情、人緣相關。「桃之夭夭，灼灼其華，之子于歸，宜室宜家」，這是一首送新嫁娘歌，用美麗的桃花比喻新娘。
- 春節時會擺放桃花以求行桃花運。
- 春節時做生意的人亦喜歡於家中或公司擺放大棵桃花，取其「大展鴻圖」之意。
- 在中國形容男同性戀者的其中一個成語為「斷袖分桃」。
- 日本:
- 世界上最甜的桃子產自日本。
- 桃太郎是民間傳說中的英雄，他誕生於一顆巨大的桃子中。
- 日文中表示粉紅色的兩個傳統詞彙分別與盛開的樹木相對應：momo-iro 表示桃花，sakura-iro 表示櫻花。
- 韓國:
- 桃子源自於道教，是韓國藝術中像徵長壽的十大象徵之一。
- 桃木製成的魔杖被用於某些韓國薩滿儀式。
- 越南:
- 在《金雲翹傳》中，主角們在桃樹下墜入愛河；而在越南，桃花盛開是春天來臨的象徵。
- 在越南北部，人們會在越南新年（春節）期間用桃樹盆景作為裝飾品。
- 美國:
- 南卡羅來納州於 1984 年將桃子定為州果。
- 1995年，喬治亞州將桃子定為官方州果。
- 德拉瓦州於 1953 年將桃花定為州花，並於 2009 年將桃子派定為官方甜點。
- 2006年，阿拉巴馬州將桃子命名為該州的州果。
Other Related Posts 其他相關的帖子
- Plant: Prunus 李属/梅属
- Plant: Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) 櫻桃李
- Plant: Chinese plum (Prunus mume) 梅
- Plant: Chinese Plum (Prunus salicina) 中國李
- Plant: Japanese cherry (Prunus serrulata) 山櫻花
- Plant: Taiwan Cherry (Prunus campanulate) 山櫻花
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Peach
- 維基百科: 桃
- Backyard Gardner: Prunus ( Early Double Pink Flowering Peach )
Plants Posts 植物的帖子
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