TREES AND SHRUBS 



lobes, sometimes wanting, perigynous, imbricate, deciduous; Stamens usually 

 indefinite ; perigynous Ovary superior, or becoming inferior by upgrowth and 

 adhesion of receptacle, carpels 1 or numerous ; Fruit variable, superior or 

 more or less inferior, naked or included within the persistent calyx-tube ; a 

 cynarrhodium of achenes, an etaerio of follicles or drupes, or a pome. 



An order of 1000-1500 species. Distinguished from Ranunculaceae by the 

 perigynous stamens and persistent calyx, and from Leguminosse by the pos- 

 terior odd calyx-lobe. 



ALMOND, Prunus Amygdalus. 



Gardens, shrubberies. March, April. One of the earliest and loveliest of 

 spring-flowering trees. It will flourish in any garden soil, preferring that in 

 which there is lime. Old and dead wood should be removed in December. 

 Propagated by stones sown 6 ins. deep in open ground in October, and by 

 grafting on young seedling plum-trees in March. 



Flowers white or rose, appearing before leaves, protogynous, solitary 

 or in pairs, pedicels short, axillary, Calyx green, 5-iobed, tube purplish, lined 

 with a wavy disk; Petals 5; Stamens indefinite; Ovary superior, 1 -celled; 

 Fruit a drupe ; epicarp a dry fibrous husk, with velvety pubescence, separating 

 irregularly into two valves ; stone pitted with irregular furrows. 



Leaves alternate, oblong-lanceolate, petiolate, serrated, lower teeth glandular, 

 glabrous, hairy beneath when young, lf-4 ins. x f-1 in. Autumn tints red 

 and yellow. 



A deciduous tree, 10-30 ft. ; Branches slender, spreading ; Twigs brown ; 

 Bai'k rough and peeling ; Buds small, conical, scales red-brown. 



Introduced from Barbary, 1548; Syn. Amygdalus communis. Specific name 

 from Gr. Amygdale, an almond, amysso, to scratch, referring to channel 

 in stone of fruit. 



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