


ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 57 
Foliage.-—Of medium density. Leaves rather numerous on_ individual 
branches. 
Blade: Medium in size (average ~ by 3 inches; ratio of width to length, 
about 2:7). Shape elliptical or ovate-elliptical, the width being somewhat 
variable. Base medium obtuse to very obtuse, bluntly round to tapering; 
origin of sides usually symmetrical. Apex acute and somewhat tapering; 
sides vary in curve. Midrib slender, prominent, very light in color. Margins 
wavy, crenations shallow and narrow. Upper surface deep, medium green. 
Lower surface light green. 
Petiole: Variable in length (2 to 14 inches, average, long, 17’¢ inches; ratio of 
length of petiole to length of blade, 2:7 to 5:12). Light green, tinged with 
red slightly in fall. Groove wide and very shallow. Glands two to six, 
usually two. Small to medium in size; oval in shape; yellowish brown; fre- 
quently basal pair of crenations glandular and accompanied by two to four 
normal glands on petiole. : 
Bearing habit—Bears well, mostly on branches 2 and 3 years old. Many 
spurs compound and long (1 to 13 inches). Single spurs medium in length 
(4 inch) and thickness (¢ inch), expands suddenly to wide oval disk + to 7% 
inch wide. Buds plump, long; constricted at base; scales thin, hard, large, 
reddish, with very short pubescence on edges. 
NUT 
Immature nut—Quite large (12 by 12 by 1 inches). Shape cordate-ovate, 
i. e., part on ventral side of axis cordate; part on dorsal side oval or ovate. 
(EKdgewise view ovate with plump base and tapering apex.) Ventral edge 
much curved; ridge wide (4 inch) and high (# to ws inch). Distinct 
grooves parallel with ridge (shallow grooves also on sides of hull). Dorsai 
edge very much shorter than ventral edge and much less curved. Base plump; 
short grooves; very much dorsally sloping; ventral shoulder prominent; dorsal 
shoulder not prominent; cavity % to 4 inch wide and we inch deep. Apex 
bluntly tapering into a round point, frequently slightly depressed; style drops 
quite early; rudiment very small. , 
Hull: Outside green, turning first yellowish and later to a dark grayish 
brown ; pubescence thick, short, fine, gray, silky. Inner surface pale green as 
dehiscence starts, turning rapidly to a rich brown. Dehiscence starts on ven- 
tral edge, followed by the dorsal edge dehiscing usually from base downward, 
although there is much variation in this regard; sometimes dorsal edge starts 
to crack in middle and sometimes at apex; usually apex is the last to divide; 
occasionally nut does not dehisce on dorsal edge. Ripens from August 14 to 28. 
Hulled nut.—(Pl. V, D.) Size rather large (12 by 14 by ¢ inches). Num- 
ber of nuts to the pound, 125 to 185. Percentage of kernel to nut in hand- 
cracked samples, 28. 
Shape: Medium plump, wide-cordate (viewed edgewise, ovate, sides usually 
unsymmetrical, curving in at the long thin apex). Ventral edge much curved, 
giving the part on the ventral side of the axis a cordate shape. Ventral edge 
about twice as long as dorsal. Longitudinal groove and ridges present; flange 
very thick, exceedingly prominent, ventral suture distinct. Dorsal edge short 
and straight, curving sharply at apex. Dorsal ridge usually narrow and very 
prominent. Base moderately plump, very wide, and much sloping dorsally. 
Ventral shoulder elevated much above stem scar and round. Dorsal shoulder 
rather square, or sloping, and very thin and projecting. Stem scar small, 
long and narrow, giving sloping top a concave appearance; sloping sharply 
dorsally. Apex blunt, thin, long, with short little point. Viewed edgewise, 
thin and long with incurving sides as a rule. 
Shell: Light to dark brown, quite hard; gets harder as the trees get older. 
Pits medium in number; size variable, mostly large, round, deep. Pits and 
short grooves on ventral flange. Pits in dorsal edge smaller than on side of 
nut. Shell between pits hard, smooth; large, short depressions present. 
Grooves and heavy wrinkles on base. Canals and fibers large. Inner shell quite 
thin. Inner surface light to dark brown in color and frequently shallow 
ridged. Ventral streak light to dark brown, usually long, narrow, narrowing 
from middle to base. 
Kernel: Medium thick, short, wide ovate. Small in size for size of nut ({ by 
£ by 2 inch). Edgewise view cuneiform or ovate cuneiform. Dorsal and ventral 
edges have the same curve, or frequently dorsal edge curves more than ventral, 
especially at apex. Base roundish; dorsal shoulder slightly sloping and thin. 

