Prunus andersonii
| Prunus andersonii | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Prunus |
| Species: | P. andersonii
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| Binomial name | |
| Prunus andersonii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Prunus andersonii is a species of shrub in the rose family, part of the same genus as the peach, cherry, and almond. Its common names include desert peach and desert almond. It is native to eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in forests and scrub in desert and mountains.[2][3]
Prunus andersonii is a shrub approaching two meters (80 inches) in height, its tangling branches narrowing to spiny-tipped twigs. Serrated, lance-shaped to oval leaves occur in clusters, each leaf measuring up to 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long. The shrub is deciduous. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or pair of flowers. Each flower has usually five concave pink petals each just under a centimeter (0.4 inches) long, with many whiskerlike stamens at the center. Flowers bloom before or at the same time as the leaves appear.[4] The fruit is a fuzzy reddish-orange drupe around a centimeter (0.4 inches) wide. The fruits are fleshy in years with ample moisture, and dry in drought years.[4] The seed is a heart-shaped stone.[4] The plant reproduces sexually via germination of the seed, and vegetatively by sprouting from its rhizome.[4] One plant may sprout and resprout from its rhizomes to form a very large clone which can spread over several acres.[4][5]
Many rodents collect and eat the fruits and cache the seeds.[4] Among Native American groups, the Paiute[disambiguation needed] used this plant for making tea and medicinal remedies, and the Cahuilla considered the fruit a delicacy.[6]
References
- ^ Tropicos, Prunus andersonii A. Gray
- ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Prunus andersonii A. Gray desert peach
- ^ a b c d e f US Forest Service Fire Ecology
- ^ Flora of North America, Prunus andersonii A. Gray, 1868. Desert peach
- ^ University of Michigan Ethnobotany
External links
- Jepson Flora Project: Prunus andersonii
- Plants for a Future: Prunus andersonii
- Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
Media related to Prunus andersonii at Wikimedia Commons
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