Some trees differ from others due to their close connection to a place, transforming over time from mere fruit-bearing trees into a part of the community's memory and agricultural heritage. The plum, or "Qrayes" as the people of Ma'an call it (Prunus domestica L.), is a distinct example of this; it arrived in the region from the Levant, where it was known in Damascus as "Hab al-Muluk" (King's Fruit), and was planted in the orchards of Al-Shamiya. It later became so famous in Ma'an that it almost became the city's signature tree. It is a vigorous tree with strong roots and branches, requiring less maintenance compared to many other stone fruit trees.
Plum fruits gain nutritional importance due to their content of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, in addition to a group of natural plant compounds, especially phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which receive scientific attention for their antioxidant activity. Laboratory studies also indicate biological activities associated with plum extracts, including anti-inflammatory activity, which enhances scientific interest in this tree and its botanical wealth, without implying that it should be considered a medical treatment.
Plums hold a special place in the culinary heritage of the people of Ma'an; their fruits are used for drying and making jams. However, their most famous local use was utilizing the green fruits before they fully ripened as a substitute for lemon, due to their high acidity and distinctive sweet-and-sour taste. Their presence has also been linked to ancient orchards and agricultural areas in Ma'an and Shobak, and some residents still keep these trees in their gardens to preserve what remains of this botanical legacy.
Protecting the Ma'ani plum is protecting a part of the agricultural memory and plant diversity in southern Jordan. Water scarcity and the decline of traditional agriculture have contributed to the reduction of its spread, and the remaining trees have become witnesses to an important agricultural phase in the region's history. Therefore, documenting them, encouraging their propagation, and supporting scientific studies about them could give this tree a new chance to survive. The plum is not just a fruit tree, but a story from the orchards of Ma'an and an agricultural heritage that deserves to remain alive for future generations.
