Definition

Noun 1. A small tree of Asia (Prunus cerasifera): A small tree native to Asia, also known as the cherry plum. It bears edible red or yellow fruit. 2. The fruit of this tree: The small, edible, plum-like fruit produced by the myrobalan tree.

Usage Examples

• Noun (referring to the tree):
  • The myrobalan in the garden provides excellent shade.
  • Farmers sometimes use the hardy myrobalan as a rootstock for other fruit trees.
• Noun (referring to the fruit):
  • The ripe myrobalan has a sweet yet slightly tart flavor.
  • She made a delicious jam from the yellow myrobalans she picked.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Traditional Medicine: In historical and Ayurvedic contexts, the term "myrobalan" is also used for the dried fruit of certain trees (like ), valued for their astringent properties. When used in this sense, it is often specified as "Chebulic myrobalan."
  • The recipe calls for myrobalan, a key ingredient in this traditional formulation.

Variants and Related Words

• Cherry Plum: A common name for , the myrobalan tree.
• Myrobalan Plum: Another name emphasizing the fruit.
• Prunus cerasifera: The botanical Latin name for the species.

Synonyms

• Cherry plum (for the tree and its fruit)
• Cerasifera (scientific shorthand)

Notes on Different Meanings

It is important to distinguish between the two primary botanical references for "myrobalan": 1. The small Asiatic fruit tree (Prunus cerasifera) and its edible plum-like fruit, as in the provided definition. 2. The dried fruit from trees of the genus Terminalia, used historically in tanning and traditional medicine. Context usually clarifies which is intended.

Noun

1. small Asiatic tree bearing edible red or yellow fruit