Apricot tree

Botanical name: Apricot tree

Latin name: Prunus armeniaca L.

Alternative names: apricot, northern plum.

Family: Rosaceae, Prunus.

Morphological characteristics: deciduous tree, up to 5-8m in height, 30cm in diameter at breast height. The dry skin is dark gray-brown, with no terminal buds and 2-3 winter buds in clusters. Single leaves are alternate, ovate to nearly round, 5-9cm long, 4-8cm wide, with a short pointed tip, round or nearly heart-shaped base, rounded and bluntly serrated edges, pinnate veins, and 4-6 lateral veins. Yes, the leaf surface is smooth, the back of the leaf is sometimes hairy between the veins and axils, the petiole is smooth, 2-3cm long, there are 1-6 glands near the leaf base, the flowers are bisexual, single flowers are sessile or nearly sessile; the calyx is narrow and cylindrical. Shape, sepals reflexed during flowering; flowers white or reddish, 25-45 stamens, shorter than petals, fruit spherical or ovate, mostly lobed or yellow-red when mature, slightly hairy. The seed core is flat and round, the flowering period is March, and the fruit matures in June-July.

Origin and distribution: Originated in Xinjiang, China, and now widely distributed throughout North China.

Ecological habits: It is a positive tree species with deep roots, light-loving, drought-tolerant, cold-resistant, wind-resistant, long life, up to more than a hundred years, and is the main cultivated fruit tree in low mountain and hilly areas.

Garden use: Blooms in early spring, flowers first and then leaves; it can be planted with pines and cypresses by the lakeside or on the edge of rocks and cliffs, or in front of the courtyard. It is highly ornamental.

Breeding and cultivation: Seed breeding is mainly used. Since there are many varieties of apricot trees, seedlings are often used as rootstocks for variety breeding (seedlings of peach and plum can also be used) for grafting and breeding. The seeds need to be wetted with sand when sowing. Stratification and germination.

Variants:

1. Mountain apricot (var.ansu Maxim.): The main difference from the apricot tree is that the branchlets have many thorns, the leaves are smaller, and the apex is long or pointed. The tail tip is wedge-shaped or broadly wedge-shaped at the base. Two flowers are born on one bud. The flowers are pink and white in color and the fruit has no edible value.

2. Weeping apricot (var. pendshurica Koehne): Small leaf shape and drooping branches are the main characteristics of this variety.

Common species of the same genus: P. mandshurica Koehne: Its main characteristics are: dark gray bark, deeply cracked, and thick cork layer. The leaves are broadly elliptical or oval, with irregular sharp and heavily serrated edges. The flowers are solitary, rarely 2 blooming side by side, and the flowers are red or light brown. Mainly produced in the northeastern region of China and southern Inner Mongolia.

The apricot tree is an excellent fruit tree in my country. It is a rose deciduous tree and is distributed in northern my country. The area to the west of Beijing can be seen all over the mountains and plains, with lush branches and leaves.

The proverb goes: "Peach, three apricots and four pears last five years, and the jujube tree will be sold for money that year." This means that apricot trees bloom and bear fruit in four years, benefiting early and entering the fruiting period in five years; its general lifespan is 40 to 100 years, so it is known as the "longevity tree".

Almond trees are generally 5 to 7 meters tall, with mostly sun-facing crowns and dense branches. The leaves are oval or broadly oval, with thin and blunt serrations on the edges and slight hairs on the backs of the leaves. Or hairless.

The fruit of the apricot tree is round, called an apricot, with a red-yellow skin and a flesh about half a centimeter thick. There are three types of apricot cores: free-core, semi-free-core, and sticky core. The kernel surface is smooth with a groove on the edge; the apricot kernel is thin and hard with almonds inside. Almonds can be either sweet or bitter. Apricots generally weigh 20 to 70 grams, and larger ones can weigh more than 100 grams.

The apricot tree has strong adaptability. The bark of the adult apricot tree is relatively thick, so it can withstand severe cold temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees below zero. The root system of the apricot tree is well developed and penetrates deep into the soil, which is about the same as the height of the tree. This is also true. This is the reason for its cold resistance.

Almond trees usually sprout in early April and bloom in the middle of April, with a flowering period of 5 to 7 years. Once the apricot flowers bloom every year, the hillsides, river banks and both sides of the road will be covered with pink and white, such as Yarn is like a dream, like mist, fragrant and refreshing. In early May, as the apricot flowers wither. Green apricots hang high on the branches. There are two growth peaks for apricots, the first in early May and the second in July, but it is weaker than the previous one. After this, the apricot trees are dotted with green apricots, and a good harvest is in sight. The majestic wind blows, and the green apricots seem to be swinging on the branches, which is really gratifying. During the wheat harvest season in May and June every year, apricots are ripe, and from a distance, the trees are full of golden color. This is the critical time to harvest.

Apricots are difficult to store and transport. When harvesting, they should be harvested early to avoid broken branches and fallen leaves. The harvested red apricots and white apricots must be transported to the fruit market in a timely manner. Generally, apricots must be quickly processed and peeled, and the pulp must be dried in the sun.

Apricot is a favorite fruit that is rich in nutrients and vitamins. Apricots can be made into apricot preserves, apricot jam, etc. Almonds are mainly used to extract oil, and can also be made into food. They are also used medicinally to relieve coughs and moisturize the intestines. Almonds are a traditional commodity produced in my country and earn a large amount of foreign exchange for the country every year. The hard texture of apricot wood makes it a good material for making furniture. The branches of the apricot tree can be used as fuel and the leaves can be used as feed. The apricot tree is full of treasures and is a cash cow for farmers.

With the improvement of people’s living standards and the development of foreign trade, the demand for apricots and almonds is increasing. In the future, various parts of the country can cultivate apricots and almonds according to conditions, further improve varieties, conduct transplantation experiments, and move northern apricots to the south, so that people all over the country can eat apricots and almonds to meet the needs of the people.