AMYGDALUS COMMUNIS. 
The Almond Tree* 
Class IcosANDRiA. — Order Monogynia. 
Nat. Ord. Pomaces, Linn. DRUPACEiE, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 5-cleft beneath. Petals 5. Drnpe 
with nut perforated in the pores. 
Spec. Char. Leaves with the lowest sawings glandular. 
Flowers sessile double. 
The Almond Tree, although a native of the warm chmates of 
Syria and Barbary, grows in great perfection ia the south of 
Europe ; where it is now much cultivated. From the writings of 
Hippocrates, and other ancient authors, it appears the almond tree 
was known in the earliest ages ; but at what period it was first 
introduced into Europe, their writings do not inform us; from 
Phny we learn that in Italy, in the time of Cato, the fruit of the 
almond was known by the name of Greek nuts.f Several species 
of the Genus Amygdalus+ have been long cultivated in Britain, 
as an ornament to our shrubberies. The Amygdalus Communis 
was first cultivated in England in the year 1570 :|| of this species 
there are two varieties, one with sweet and the other with bitter 
kernels ; these varieties, it is said, will often arise from fruit of 
the same tree, by sowing the seed, or by some accidental difference 
in culture. This species of almond rises to the height of sixteen or 
more feet, with large spreading branches ; in mild seasons it flowers 
early in February, when the young wood of the last year's growth is 
crowded with blossoms. The leaves are lanced, serrated, petioled. 
* In tbe annexed illustration, Fig. a. represents a sprig, the leaves and fruit 
about cue-third less than the natural specimen from which it was taken, b. A sprig 
representing the blossoms of the natural sine. c. The pistillum (somewhat mag- 
nified.) d. Stamina, e. The calyx. 
t See Plinj, lib. xv. cap. 22. 
t In the Hortus Cantabrigiensis, there are enumerated six species. 
II See Hortus Cant. 10th ed. 
B 
