Damson Plums

The Damson or damson plum (Prunus domestica subsp. insititia, or sometimes Prunus insititia), also archaically called the "damascene", is an edible drupaceous fruit, a subspecies of the plum tree. Insititia comes in many different forms, although the word damson is derived from and most frequently used to describe variants that are native to Great Britain. Damsons are a commonly used culinary ingredient, particularly in jams and preserves made from fruit. They are a small, ovoid plum-like fruit with a peculiar flavor that is slightly astringent.

The fruit from a tree in the Myrtaceae family called jamblang is frequently referred to as a damson plum in South and Southeast Asia. Simarouba amara, a tree, was also once known as "mountain damson" or "bitter damson" in Jamaica. The small clingstone prunes are dark purple-black with firm green or golden yellow flesh. The trees display an attractive, rounded shape. The ovoid green leaves are finely toothed along the edges. Damson plum trees reach mature heights of about 20 feet (6 m.) with a similar spread, and dwarf trees are about half that size. Prunes made from damson plums supply fiber, beneficial plant compounds, and the sugar sorbitol — all of which may help relieve constipation.