ROSACEA. 



407 



of the Apricots towards the end of the winter. A couple of species 

 are known, natives of temperate Asia.' 



3. The Almonds' (Fr., Amandiers—^^^. 469-474) have all the 

 characters of the Peaches as regards leaves, inflorescence, and flower- 



Frunus Persica {Peach). 



Fig. 479. 

 Branch. 



mg. 



But the stone, of variable thickness and sometimes very hard, 

 is scarcely wrinkled on the surface, which is riddled by narrow pores ; 

 the mesocarp, at first fleshy or leathery, but thick, finally becomes 

 dry like the velvety epicarp to which it remains intimately united. 

 This little group comprises about eight species from Asia and the 

 south of Europe.^ 



' Mill., Diet., n. 1.— DC, Fl. Fr., iv. 487.— 

 Lamk., Diet., i. 100, n. 1-42. 



'^ Amygdalus T., op. cit., 627, t. 402.— L., 

 Gen., n. Gl'J.— J., Gen., 341.— Lamk., Diet., i. 

 102; Suppl., i. 309.— G.EBXN., Fruct., ii. 74, t. 



93.— DC, op.cit., 530.— SpAcir, op. cit., 385.— 

 Endl., Oen., n. 6405. — Amygdalophora >.'eck., 

 Flem.., n. 717. 



^ DC, loc. cit. — Spacu, An)). Sc. Nat., s.6y. 

 2, xix. 106.— Jaub. & Si'ACU, ///. PI. Orient., in. 



