ROSACEAE 



Peach 



Prunus persica (L.) Batsch {Amygdalus persica L.) 



This small Asiatic tree with its many improved varieties pro- 

 duces the peaches of commerce. It has escaped from cultivation, 

 mostly along roads or fences. The peach differs from other 

 subgenera of Prunus in having large, grooved, hairy fruits; 1-2 

 sessile flowers with hairy ovaries; and scaly buds with the terminal 

 present and separate lateral flower buds. 



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Almond 



Prunus amygdalus Batsch 



A small Asiatic tree cultivated for the edible kernels of the 

 stone in the drupaceous fruit. This species is restricted to warm 

 climates. This tree closely resembles the peach, diff'ering from it 

 in that the fruit becomes dry and splits open at maturity. The 

 commonly planted flowering almond, P. triloba Lindl., is a hand- 

 some, pink-flowered shrub or small tree native to China. The 

 desert almond, P. fasiculata Gray, is a shrub or rarely a small 

 tree native to the Southwest. 



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Sour Cherry 

 Prunus cerasus L. 



This native of southeastern Europe and Asia is widely natural- 

 ized as an escape through much of North America. It is important 

 as the source of numerous varieties of canning cherries. 



Sw^ET Cherry. Mazzard 

 Prunus avium L. 

 Native to Europe and Asia, but widely naturalized through 

 North America, this species is widely cultivated for its garden 

 cherries. 



Apricot 

 Prunus armeniaca L. 

 This small to medium-sized tree, native to western Asia, is 

 widely planted for its distinctive fruits. It closely resembles 

 the peach in its hairy, grooved fruit, but diff'ers from it in having 

 no terminal bud and solitary axillary buds, and in having broad- 

 ovate leaves which are rolled up in the bud. 



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