PLANTS MENTIONED IN CLASSICAL WORKS. 295 
under the name of swan me (sour plum) and used for 
preparing a refreshing beverage. I suspect this is Pr. mume, 
although this species does not appear in the Index Flore 
sinensis. I cannot say what Prunus the figure under me 
_ (Ch, XXXII, 12] is intended for, but the me described 
: in P., XXIX, 11, is, I believe Pr. mume. Lt SHI-CHEN 
says the leaves and fruit of the mei resemble those of 
the apricot; the fruit is acid; it is salted or dried or 
smoke-dried. In the latter state it is called wu mei (black 
plum). © 
The #x 38 Hg yii ye mei (mei with elm-leaves) a beautiful 
ornamental shrub frequently cultivated at Peking, is the 
Prunus triloba, Lindl. Small fruits, not eatable. 
I suspect the mei of the Classics is Prunus mume. 
‘Liki, I, 460 [Diet of the Ancient Chinese” ] :—Water 
_ syrup of prunes (@%). The commentators explain the charac- 
ter by ff HE (mei syrup). Ibidem :—For preserved peaches 
and plums (mei) they placed egg-like suet. I, 461 :—Mei 
mentioned among the fruits eaten by the ancient Chinese. 
[See the quotation injra, 484, note.] Lxcee translates here | 
mei by ballaces. on : ; 
~ In the Chou li [I, 105] we have the iterm Ail kan lao 
[see the quotation in 470]. Cena Huan explains it by 
dried mei, eee 
— -Hia Calendar, 21:—First month. The plum (me?) blossoms. 
73:—Fifth month. Cooked are the plums (me?). ate 
_ The me is frequently mentioned in the Shan hai king. 
Kuo P%o says it resembles the apricot, but is acid. [Compare 
also the RA ya, 227, 237, 244.] ee 
Shi king, 30 :—Dropping are the fruits from the plum- 
tree (mei). [Also 197, 210, 223, 358.] . 
— Lu kt:—The mei resembles the apricot, especially in the 
leaves, The fruit is dried and prepared as soup, OF pickled. 
Itis of a pleasant taste. [Compare also in/ra, 512.] 
