'^34 NATURAL 



AMYGDALE^E. The Almond Tribe. 

 (This includes the Peach also.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with a superior 

 solitary, simple ovarium, having a terminal style ; regular, 

 perigynous, indefinite stamen ; a drupaceous fruit ; an exai- 

 buminous, suspended seed, and alternate, stipulate, simple 

 leaves, yielding hydrocyanic [prussic] acid. 



Essential Characters. Calyx 5-toothed, deciduous, lined 

 with a disk, the fifth lobe next the axis. Petals 5, perigy- 

 nous. Stamens 20, or thereabouts, arising from the throat 

 of the calyx, in aestivation "curved inwards ; anthers innate, 

 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovary superior, solitary, 

 simple, 1 -celled ; ovula, 2, suspended ; styles terminal, with 

 a furrow on one side, terminating in a reniform stigma. 

 Fruit a drupe, with the putamen sometimes separating 

 spontaneously from the sarcocarp. Seeds mostly solitary, 

 suspended in consequence of the cohesion of a funiculus 

 umbilicalis, arising from the base of the cavity of the ova- 

 rium, with its side embryo straight, with the radicle point- 

 ing to the hilum ; cotyledons thick ; albumen none ; trees, or 

 shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, usually glandular towards 

 the base ; stipules simple, mostly glandular. Flowers white, 

 or pink. Hydrocyanic acid present in the leaves and ker- 

 nel. 



Affinities. Distinguished from Rosaceae, (the Rose 

 tribe,) and Pomaceae, (the Apple tribe,) by their fruit being 

 a drupe, their bark yielding gum, and by the presence of 

 hydrocyanic [prussic] acid. From Leguminosre, (the Pea 

 tribe,) they are distinguished by the latter character, and 

 also by their regular petals and stamens, and especially by 

 the odd segment of the five lobed calyx of that order being 

 inferior, not superior. This tribe is also distinguished from 

 the Chrysobalanae, (the Cocoa-plum tribe,) by the prussic 

 acid, terminal styles, and regular petals and stamens of the 

 former. 



GEOGRAPHY. Natives exclusively of the northern hemis- 

 phere, where they are found in cold or temperate climates. 



Properties. The astringent, febrifugal properties of the 

 Rose tribe, with which order these are usually combined, 

 are also found in the Almond tribe, as in the bark of the 

 Oerasus Virginiana, [Prunus Virginiana (Wild Cherry,)] 

 which is prescribed in the United States, and of the Cerasus 



