Image 1 of 1
133117.jpg
Almond Nut Prunus dulcis (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 8m
Small, open-crowned tree whose blossom appears early in spring. BARK Blackish, breaking into small oblong plates. BRANCHES Ascending, usually rather spiny with numerous thin twigs but many cultivars are regularly branched and lack spines. LEAVES Alternate, to 13cm long, finely toothed and folded lengthways. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Pink or white flowers are paired and almost sessile; open before leaves. 5 petals each to 2.5cm long, form cup-shaped flowers. Fruit is about 6cm long, flattened ovoid, covered with velvety green down with a tough fleshy layer below, inside which is ridged and pitted ‘stone’ that when cracked reveals edible almond seed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Probably native to central and SW Asia and N Africa, but long cultivated for seeds and flowers. In our region, it needs protection from harsh winter weather.
Small, open-crowned tree whose blossom appears early in spring. BARK Blackish, breaking into small oblong plates. BRANCHES Ascending, usually rather spiny with numerous thin twigs but many cultivars are regularly branched and lack spines. LEAVES Alternate, to 13cm long, finely toothed and folded lengthways. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Pink or white flowers are paired and almost sessile; open before leaves. 5 petals each to 2.5cm long, form cup-shaped flowers. Fruit is about 6cm long, flattened ovoid, covered with velvety green down with a tough fleshy layer below, inside which is ridged and pitted ‘stone’ that when cracked reveals edible almond seed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Probably native to central and SW Asia and N Africa, but long cultivated for seeds and flowers. In our region, it needs protection from harsh winter weather.
- Copyright
- PAUL STERRY/Nature Photographers
- Image Size
- 2321x3543 / 1.8MB
- www.naturephotographers.co.uk
- Contained in galleries
- TREES
