
ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 75 
Petiole: Medium to long (# to 14 inches; average, ~ inch; ratio of length 
of petiole to length of blade, about 2:7). Varies in diameter, usually stocky. 
Under surface pale green; upper, light green, tinged with red in autumn. 
Groove wide, medium in depth, shallow and narrow at base. Glands one to 
four, generally two; large, globular or oval with upper surface sometimes de- 
pressed; yellow or yellowish brown; on petiole (usually two are very close 
to blade) ; sometimes one basal crenation glandular. 
Bearing habit—On spurs on wood 1 to 5 years old; many spurs on 1-year-old 
wood. Some nuts borne on laterals. Sometimes spurs live and bear two years. 
Diameter of spurs, medium to large (4# to + inch), long (4 to 4 inch) ; spurs on 
old wood tend to be short and thick. Disk large, wide oval (3% by 4 inch). 
Buds free, large, plump, rather short; scales medium in size, dark brown, thin, 
tough, with very short, gray pubescence on edges. Ripens August 12 to Septem- 
ber 5, depending on locality and season. 
NGE 
Immature nut.—Size medium (12 by 14 by ¢ inches). Wide ovate. (Edge- 
wise view, oval with tapering apex.) Ventral edge only slightly ridged (ridge 
4 inch wide and ss inch deep or less); suture depression entire length of 
ventral edge, narrow, medium in depth (¢¢inch). Dorsal edge curving, but 
less than ventral, curves sharply at apex, slightly ridged. Base nearly at right 
angles to axis, dorsal shoulder rather square, cavity shallow ( ¢ inch), and 
3 inch in diameter. Apex pointed, with ventral edge rounding and sloping and 
dorsal edge rounding; suture line depressed at apex; style drops early; rudi- 
ment small and pubescent. 
Hull: Outer surface green, becoming yellowish green and finally brown during 
ripening period; pubescence abundant, fine, short, gray, silky. Inner surface 
light green, gradually turning brown as dehiscence proceeds. Dehiscence be- 
gins along ventral edge, usually throughout its entire length, but sometimes 
begins at apex or base; dorsal edge then dehisces from apex upward until 
hull is completely divided (fig. 12); the two halves remain attached at base, 
spread and curl at apex; ventral and dorsal edges curl inward and assume a 
twisted appearance; halves curl about equally ; sometimes cracks occur at apex; 
frequently dorsal edge cracks only partially. 
Hulled nut—(P1. VII, D.) Size medium to large (14 by ¢ by 2 to 14 by 1% by 
# inches). Number of nuts to the pound, 140 to 200. Percentage of kernel to 
shell in hand-cracked samples, 54; in orchard run, machine-cracked sample, 47. 
Shape: Rather flat. Ovate, wide in proportion to length; (viewed edgewise, 
ovate, with sides gently curving, either Symmetrical or unsymmetrical). Ven- 
tral edge much curved; wing thin, very prominent, with a smooth regularly 
curved edge, distinct up to the stem scar, most prominent throughout apex 
half; ends in point at apex. Dorsal edge gently curved, most curving on apex 
half, generally curving inward sharply at apex. Dorsal ridge usually promi- 
nent, especially at base. Dorsal suture line frequently visible. Base slightly 
truncate, at right angles to axis, or slightly ventrally sloping; stem scar gen- 
erally narrow. Apex bluntly pointed, with mucronate tip; thickness varies; 
viewed edgewise, sides generally curve outward very slightly. 
Shell: Outer surface light to dark brown. Pits numerous, round, varying 
in size on the same nut. Parts between pits spongy in texture and stippled 
in appearance. Outer shell soft and crumbling, easily breaking away from 
the thin harder pertion of inner shell. Fibers very large. Inner surface of 
shell light brown in color, frequently lighter in color than outer surface; 
shallow depressions give inner surface slightly ridged appearance. Ventral 
streak dark brown, wide, medium to long, with base end usually pointed. 
Kernel: Doubles only occasional. Size medium to large (1 by 2 by 4 to 
14 by 2 by x inches). Shape broadly ovate, wide in proportion to length; 
flat, thin, especially when grown during dry season; wrinkles much on dry- 
ing; seldom fills shell. Dorsal edge much thinner than ventral. Base some- 
times rounding when viewed flatwise, but more often dorsal shoulder is square, 
humped, and thin. Apex broad, round, thin, with small acute tip. Pellicle 
dark brown, medium tough, thickly covered with pubescence; pellicle fold on 
apex half of ventral edge small; veining indistinct. Flavor slightly sweet. 
Fair only. 
Distinguishing characteristics —Nut rather flat, quite wide and short; ven- 
tral edge sharply curving; wing prominent; base ventrally sloping or right 
angles to axis; apex blunt with small point; kernel short, wide, with square 

