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1. A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus, most fruit sold as plums is of the subgenus Prunus Domestica.

2. Blackthorns (sloes), greengages, damsons and apricots are all botanically categorised as plums.

3. Dried plums are known simply as prunes, although the prune is actually a distinct type of plum.

4. Plums and prunes are known for their laxative effect.

5. The famous Victoria Plum was found in 1840 as a seedling in a garden in Sussex.

6. Experts were able to identify over one hundred individual varieties of plum stones on Henry VIII’s flagship the Mary Rose, which sank in 1545 and was raised in the 1980's.

7. The word plumb, as used in carpentry, derives from the Latin for lead, referring to the lead weight used at the end of a plumb line.

8. TV presenter Angela Rippon wrote and illustrated the 'Victoria Plum' childrens books.

9. Umeboshi (Japanese pickled plums) were thought by the samurai to combat battle fatigue.

10. Plums can be made into wine, and both jam and chutney.