Almond

Scientific name: Prunus amygdalus
Family: Rosaceae (Rose)
Podcast Script

Almonds grow on a small/medium tree	The almond tree bark is rough.
Almond leaves are narrow and sharp.	The almond fruit resembles a young peach

Classification:

Angiosperm, Dicot, deciduous

Size:

Trees are usually 10 to 15 feet tall in commercial orchards, but can grow up to 30 feet.

Identifying Features:

The almond has two varieties: sweet and bitter. Sweet almonds can be eaten raw, roasted. Bitter almonds contain prussic acid, which is lethal. Almond oil can be extracted from both. Almond oil is used in flavoring, soaps, cosmetics, and as a demulcent.

Location/Habitat:

Originally from south-central Asia, Almonds were cultivated in the Mediterranean by the Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans. In the 1700s, Spanish missionaries brought the almond seeds to California. The tree does well in deep, loamy, well-drained soils, but is tolerant of poor soils.

Flower/Fruit/Reproduction:

Flowers and young fruit are similar to those of the peach tree. The flowers are fragant, light pink/white in color, with 5 petals and sepals. Almond flowers require cross pollination, primarily through honeybees. The fruit is a drupe. When the hull dries and splits, the nut is revealed. Trees begin producing fruit when they are 3 or 4 years old, and continue producing for over 50 years.

Water/Sun Requirements:

Area should have mild winters and long, dry, and hot summers. Frost in the springtime and high humidity levels can limit the growth of almonds.

Special Adaptations:

Almond varieties differ in various regions. Some varieties flower later than others due to the coldness of the temperature. Other varieties are more susceptible to fungus. Many growers breed specific Almond varieties to suit the climate of the region.

Other Info:

Harvesting: Commercially, mature almond trees are harvested by mechanical tree shakers. Nuts are left on the ground to dry for 1-2 weeks before they are collected. California accounts for 80% of the world's almond production.
The almond is in the same genus as the peach, cherry and plum trees. Additionally, it is the only member of the genus Prunus cultivated mainly for it's seed.
Almond trees have a lifespan of between twenty and twenty-five years. However, almond trees do not begin fruiting till after they are four years old.

Reference Sources/Links:

http://www.uga.edu/fruit/almond.html
http://www.question.com/link/almond.html
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5337E/x5337e0k.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almond
http://www.botanical-online.com/medicinalsametllerangles.htm
Created by Sarah C. 2007