枇(pi)杷(pa)(pa)樹屬亞熱帶樹種(zhong)(zhong),原產(chan)(chan)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)福建、四川、陜西(xi)、湖南(nan)、湖北(bei)、浙江等省,長(chang)(chang)江以南(nan)各(ge)省多(duo)作果樹栽培。枇(pi)杷(pa)(pa)適應性強,可(ke)(ke)以人(ren)工種(zhong)(zhong)植(zhi),也可(ke)(ke)以大棚種(zhong)(zhong)植(zhi)。枇(pi)杷(pa)(pa)喜(xi)光,稍耐陰,喜(xi)溫(wen)暖(nuan)氣候(hou)和(he)肥水濕(shi)潤(run)、排水良好(hao)的土壤,稍耐寒,不耐嚴寒,生長(chang)(chang)緩(huan)慢。太湖邊及湖中(zhong)(zhong)島上的枇(pi)杷(pa)(pa)獨(du)佳(jia),由于冬(dong)日(ri)(ri)水汽霧(wu)氣,保護了冬(dong)日(ri)(ri)花朵不受寒害,故年年碩果累(lei)累(lei),江蘇蘇州吳中(zhong)(zhong)區(qu)(吳縣)洞庭山為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)五大枇(pi)杷(pa)(pa)產(chan)(chan)地之一。金庭(西(xi)山島)氣候(hou)溫(wen)暖(nuan)濕(shi)潤(run),雨(yu)量(liang)充沛,日(ri)(ri)照充足,土質疏松(song),尤其適合枇(pi)杷(pa)(pa)的生長(chang)(chang)。島內還(huan)專門(men)開(kai)辟了青種(zhong)(zhong)枇(pi)杷(pa)(pa)種(zhong)(zhong)植(zhi)基(ji)地。
枇(pi)杷(pa),因狀(zhuang)如民族樂器中的(de)(de)琵琶(pa)而得名(ming)(ming)。其(qi)果實柔(rou)軟(ruan)、多汁,甘酸(suan)適度,為(wei)初(chu)夏水果中的(de)(de)珍品。我(wo)國栽培枇(pi)杷(pa)歷史悠久,早在(zai)西漢(han)初(chu)期已經種(zhong)植(zhi)。枇(pi)杷(pa)在(zai)我(wo)國有五大產區(qu),東山(shan)和(he)西山(shan)為(wei)主要產區(qu)之(zhi)一。它與浙(zhe)江塘棲的(de)(de)“軟(ruan)條”、福建莆口(kou)的(de)(de)“大鐘”齊名(ming)(ming)。西山(shan)栽種(zhong)枇(pi)杷(pa)的(de)(de)歷史始于唐代,至宋(song)代有了明(ming)(ming)確的(de)(de)文字記(ji)載。明(ming)(ming)代時,洞庭山(shan)的(de)(de)枇(pi)杷(pa)產量已經聞名(ming)(ming)天下。有王世懋(mao)的(de)(de)《學圃雜疏》為(wei)證:洞庭枇(pi)杷(pa)天下最。
西(xi)山(shan)枇杷按(an)肉質和(he)(he)皮(pi)(pi)色(se),一(yi)(yi)般分(fen)為(wei)三(san)類:白沙(sha)、紅沙(sha)和(he)(he)青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。如果(guo)按(an)皮(pi)(pi)色(se)和(he)(he)形態分(fen)則更多,有(you)照種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、白沙(sha)、灰種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、和(he)(he)尚(shang)頭、雞蛋白、大種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、細種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、銅皮(pi)(pi)等(deng)。西(xi)山(shan)枇杷主要有(you)兩個品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)深(shen)受(shou)人們(men)(men)青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)睞(lai)。荸(bi)薺(qi)(qi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。因形如荸(bi)薺(qi)(qi)而(er)(er)得(de)(de)(de)名。荸(bi)薺(qi)(qi)比青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)成熟(shu)(shu)期(qi)晚一(yi)(yi)個星期(qi)左右。其(qi)優(you)點是(shi)(shi)(shi)甜性特(te)足,相對其(qi)他枇杷而(er)(er)言,經(jing)(jing)得(de)(de)(de)起雨淋。不(bu)足之處(chu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)果(guo)形小,皮(pi)(pi)不(bu)易(yi)剝離。此(ci)品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)在(zai)清(qing)(qing)光緒十三(san)年(nian)(1887),西(xi)山(shan)葛(ge)家塢農(nong)(nong)民(min)(min)葛(ge)文麟從(cong)一(yi)(yi)枝(zhi)十年(nian)生(sheng)(sheng)枇杷上(shang)采得(de)(de)(de)果(guo)實(shi)(shi)去鎮夏出售(shou),被(bei)有(you)經(jing)(jing)驗的(de)果(guo)農(nong)(nong)王萬山(shan)發現(xian)而(er)(er)加以(yi)鼓勵,葛(ge)氏(shi)從(cong)而(er)(er)培(pei)(pei)育,經(jing)(jing)過(guo)嫁接逐(zhu)步推(tui)行而(er)(er)發展(zhan)。民(min)(min)國時(shi)期(qi),荸(bi)薺(qi)(qi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)裝上(shang)小竹籃(lan),遠銷無(wu)錫常(chang)州一(yi)(yi)帶,頗有(you)聲(sheng)譽。青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)枇杷因果(guo)實(shi)(shi)成熟(shu)(shu)時(shi)蒂部(bu)仍呈青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)色(se)而(er)(er)得(de)(de)(de)名。青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)枇杷由野生(sheng)(sheng)枇杷變異(yi)而(er)(er)來(lai)。清(qing)(qing)代(dai)末年(nian),秉常(chang)村村民(min)(min)謝方友發現(xian)此(ci)品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)果(guo)形大、汁水多、甜性足、易(yi)剝離、故(gu)加以(yi)培(pei)(pei)植,從(cong)而(er)(er)得(de)(de)(de)到發展(zhan)。目前,青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)枇杷已成為(wei)西(xi)山(shan)枇杷中的(de)主流品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),深(shen)受(shou)食(shi)客們(men)(men)的(de)青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)睞(lai)。青(qing)(qing)(qing)(qing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)枇杷雖好,但(dan)它經(jing)(jing)不(bu)起日(ri)曬、雨淋。尤(you)其(qi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)果(guo)實(shi)(shi)近成熟(shu)(shu)時(shi),一(yi)(yi)旦碰上(shang)大雨,枇杷皮(pi)(pi)容易(yi)爆裂。這(zhe)樣(yang),枇杷就(jiu)賣不(bu)出價格了。因此(ci),果(guo)農(nong)(nong)們(men)(men)最怕的(de)就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)果(guo)實(shi)(shi)成熟(shu)(shu)時(shi)的(de)大風狂語。枇杷的(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)植以(yi)沙(sha)粒(li)黃(huang)泥地為(wei)優(you)質土壤。西(xi)山(shan)秉常(chang)村羅漢(han)塢和(he)(he)葛(ge)家塢內都具(ju)備這(zhe)樣(yang)的(de)自然(ran)條(tiao)件,因此(ci),果(guo)實(shi)(shi)比一(yi)(yi)般地段(duan)出產的(de)果(guo)品(pin)(pin)優(you)質。枇杷隔(ge)冬開花,能耐霜寒雪凍(dong)(dong),次(ci)年(nian),夏熟(shu)(shu),得(de)(de)(de)雨露之潤。故(gu)有(you)“秋萌,凍(dong)(dong)花,春(chun)實(shi)(shi),夏熟(shu)(shu),備四時(shi)之精氣(qi)”的(de)說法,被(bei)人們(men)(men)譽為(wei)“果(guo)之冠(guan)”。
西(xi)山習(xi)慣上(shang)把(ba)枇(pi)(pi)杷(pa)分為(wei)白(bai)(bai)沙、紅沙兩類(lei),白(bai)(bai)沙 用來概括白(bai)(bai)肉(rou)和黃肉(rou)系(xi)統(tong)的(de)枇(pi)(pi)杷(pa)品種,紅沙則指(zhi)橙肉(rou)系(xi)統(tong)的(de)枇(pi)(pi)杷(pa)。西(xi)山枇(pi)(pi)杷(pa)品種眾多(duo),栽培最多(duo)的(de)是青種、照種和荸(bi)薺種。
青種(zhong)枇杷:原由(you)野生枇杷變(bian)異而來,果(guo)(guo)實成熟時(shi)蒂部(bu)仍(reng)呈青綠(lv)色,是(shi)該種(zhong)最易辨認的特征,青種(zhong)之(zhi)名亦(yi)由(you)此而來;有(you)長柄青種(zhong)和短(duan)柄青種(zhong)兩個品(pin)系,前者果(guo)(guo)柄較細,果(guo)(guo)形略(lve)小(xiao),后者果(guo)(guo)柄粗短(duan),果(guo)(guo)大小(xiao)均勻(yun),栽培(pei)以短(duan)柄青種(zhong)為多。
照(zhao)(zhao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)枇杷(pa)可分(fen)為短(duan)(duan)柄照(zhao)(zhao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、長柄照(zhao)(zhao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)和鷹爪照(zhao)(zhao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)三個品系。短(duan)(duan)柄照(zhao)(zhao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)果柄較短(duan)(duan),樹(shu)冠枝條較疏(shu);長柄照(zhao)(zhao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)果柄長,枝條稍密,果肉較厚;鷹爪照(zhao)(zhao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)以果柄下垂略(lve)似鷹爪而得名(ming)。
荸薺種因果扁圓略似荸薺而(er)得名。
“太(tai)(tai)湖綠”是(shi)由蘇(su)州西山國家現(xian)代(dai)農(nong)業(ye)(ye)示范園區有(you)(you)限(xian)(xian)責任公(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)于2001年6月經國家商(shang)標(biao)(biao)局注(zhu)冊批準的(de)(de)(de)商(shang)標(biao)(biao),并于2003年、2006年連續兩次被工商(shang)局評為(wei)(wei)江蘇(su)省著名(ming)(ming)商(shang)標(biao)(biao)。蘇(su)州西山國家現(xian)代(dai)農(nong)業(ye)(ye)示范園區有(you)(you)限(xian)(xian)責任公(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(下(xia)稱“園區”)是(shi)經國家農(nong)業(ye)(ye)綜合開發(fa)辦(ban)批準的(de)(de)(de)農(nong)業(ye)(ye)示范園區,其有(you)(you)限(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)是(shi)他的(de)(de)(de)管理、開發(fa)主(zhu)體,致力于現(xian)代(dai)農(nong)業(ye)(ye),綠色農(nong)業(ye)(ye)的(de)(de)(de)發(fa)展。對西山的(de)(de)(de)傳統農(nong)業(ye)(ye)資源進行開發(fa),整合枇杷、楊梅、板栗、銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)等(deng)果(guo)品(pin)。為(wei)(wei)發(fa)展農(nong)業(ye)(ye),在(zai)市場(chang)經濟(ji)中走出一(yi)條(tiao)新的(de)(de)(de)道路,帶領農(nong)民致富(fu),為(wei)(wei)此創立了“太(tai)(tai)湖綠”------一(yi)個嶄新的(de)(de)(de)農(nong)業(ye)(ye)品(pin)牌(pai)。“太(tai)(tai)湖綠”商(shang)標(biao)(biao)主(zhu)要在(zai)本單位(wei)生產(chan)(chan)的(de)(de)(de)新鮮蔬菜(黃瓜、番茄、彩色甜椒等(deng))、水果(guo)(枇杷、楊梅、板栗、銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)、草莓、石榴等(deng))上使(shi)用。生產(chan)(chan)的(de)(de)(de)太(tai)(tai)湖綠枇杷、楊梅、板栗、銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)等(deng)通(tong)過(guo)國家級(ji)無(wu)公(gong)(gong)(gong)害(hai)農(nong)產(chan)(chan)品(pin)認證(zheng),市場(chang)供不應求,已有(you)(you)一(yi)定的(de)(de)(de)知名(ming)(ming)度,其產(chan)(chan)品(pin)先后被評為(wei)(wei)蘇(su)州名(ming)(ming)牌(pai)產(chan)(chan)品(pin),獲得第三屆江蘇(su)省特優農(nong)產(chan)(chan)品(pin)博覽(lan)會最佳(jia)產(chan)(chan)品(pin)獎。