


ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 87 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Size small to medium (average, 14 by 1 by 3 inches). Shape 
irregular; plump (but varies in plumpness) ; ovate; part on ventral side of 
axis ovate or elliptical, part on dorsal side oblong-elliptical. Ventral edge 
curved; ventral ridge prominent (4 inch wide; 4 to ie inch high), depressions 
paralleling it on each side deep and crooked, suture varies as to direction; 
may run Straight down middle of ridge or may run obliquely. Dorsal edge 
straight, irregularly ridged; grooved each side of dorsal ridge. Base usually 
slightly sloping dorsally; deeply grooved; stem cavity shallow (zs inch) ; 
narrow (4 to ~ inch). Apex round pointed; irregularly grooved; style falls 
early; rudiment very small, pubescent. 
Hull: Outer surface green, covered abundantly with moderately coarse, 
short, gray, felty pubescence; many irregular grooves on surface. Dehisces 
first on ventral edge; may or may not crack open on dorsal edge; when open 
on dorsal edge as well as ventral, the halves spread open at apex. Date of 
dehiscence late, September 15 to October 10. 
Hulled nut.—(Pl. IX, D.) Vary in size, quite small to medium (1 by ? by 
4 to 14 by 14 by #? inches). Number of nuts to the pound, 170 to 225. Per- 
centage of kernel to nut, hand cracked, 50. 
Shape: Quite plump, wide ovate; nut rather wide in proportion to length; 
axis one-third way from ventral to dorsal edge; (edgewise view ovate, with 
bulging sides). Ventral edge plump, sharply curved, curved very much at 
base and apex. Wide longitudinal depressions along ventral edge, accom- 
panied by ridges especially prominent. Wing of medium thickness, prominent 
to very prominent. Dorsal edge plump, slightly curved, but curving sharply 
at apex; dorsal ridge distinct to prominent, wide to narrow; suture line usually 
distinct. Base plump, or sharply rounded, somewhat constricted as a rule, 
truncate, at right angles to axis, or slightly sloping ventrally, sometimes dor- 
sally; stem scar medium to quite large, wide oval, slightly depressed. Apex 
varies; mostly blunt, wide, and rounding, but sometimes pointed; usually 
plump. Viewed edgewise, sides usually bulging. 
Shell: Soft, but some too hard to crack with fingers; varies in same sample; 
outer shell very hard or slightly crumbly, light brown or yellowish brown in 
color. Pits rather numerous, mostly round, medium in depth, small to medium 
in size, found all over sides, on ventral and dorsal edges, but not on base 
within one-fourth inch of stem scar. Nuts are characteristically marked with 
ridges or corrugations, the ridges and grooves extending downward from base 
end a short distance, but one or two extend down the nut on one or both sides 
of wing, giving the ventral edge a depressed appearance due to the groove 
along its edge and the ridge outside. Very short distinct grooves run out 
on wing nearly to its edge. Canals medium size. Fibers usually round, medium 
in size, generally light brown in color. Inner shell medium in thickness, hard. 
Inner surface of shell light brown in color, but darker than outer shell; 
Slightly undulating. Ventral streak dark sepia in color; long; varies in 
width, medium to wide; base tapering, but blunt. 
Kernel: Some doubles (2 to 4 per cent). Size medium (average, ~ by 4 by 
2 inch). Somewhat irregular in shape, very plump, short, ovate, or cuneiform- 
ovate. Dorsal edge longer than ventral. Ventral edge curves more than dorsal. 
Base rounding or truncate; dorsal shoulder usually round and thinner than 
ventral (base from dorsal shoulder to base scar often straight, approaching 
the axis at right angles); ventral shoulder plump, sloping very abruptly 
downward from base scar. Widest portion of kernel near base. Apex two- 
thirds of nut decidedly cuneiform, or at least somewhat pointed, but plump. 
Pellicle cinnamon brown in color, thin, rather tender; pubescence little in quan- 
tity and so short as to give most of the pellicle a smooth appearance, most 
abundant along ventral edge and apex; veins dark brown and indistinct; pellicle 
fold small, along apex third of ventral side; base scar distinct, slightly elevated, 
dark brown, roundish. Flavor rather flat, considerable oil present. Flavor not 
very attractive to most people. 
Distinguishing characteristics —Ventral edge of nut with very prominent 
longitudinal depressions and ridges parallel with wing; wing very prominent, 
always prominent at base and apex, curving very suddenly at apex; usually 
approaching the axis at nearly right angles; dorsal edge at immediate apex 
sharply and shortly recurving; flange with short grooves; base constricted ; 
stem scar wide, variable in shape, i. e., at right angles to axis or slightly 
ne either dorsally or ventrally; kernel short, plump, dorsal shoulder often 
umped. 

—— 
