Prunus davidiana

Prunus davidiana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Prunus subg. Prunus
Species:
P. davidiana
Binomial name
Prunus davidiana
Synonyms[3]
  • Amygdalus davidiana
  • Persica davidiana
  • Prunus persica var. davidiana
  • Prunus sibirica var. davidiana (Carrière) Y.L.Chou[2]

Prunus davidiana[4][5][6][3] (syn. Amygdalus davidiana,[1] Persica davidiana,[1][4] Prunus persica var. davidiana)[1] is a species in the genus Prunus in the family Rosaceae. It is also known by the common names David's peach[1][5] and Chinese wild peach.[1] It is native to China, preferring to grow in forests and thickets, on slopes in mountain valleys, and in waste fields, from 800 to 3200 m.[4][5] It is resistant to frost, and to a number of pests and diseases of cultivated peach, and is the subject of many studies for the genetic improvement of peaches.

Description

Deciduous, upright tree.[4][5]

  • Height and Spread: Reaches a maximum height and spread of 9 m (30 ft) by 9 m (30 ft).[5]
  • Branches: Young branches whippy, upright,[5] and smooth.[4]
  • Bark: smooth, dark purplish-red
  • Leaves: Dark green,[5] glabrous leaves are lanceolate-narrow ovate in shape, ranging in length from 5–12 cm (2–5 in).[4] Leaf point is long and slender, tapering to a point;[4][5] leaf margins finely toothed.[4][5] Petioles are glandular.[4]
  • Inflorescences: Flowers in late winter-early spring[5] or in February.[4]
    • Flowers: 2.5 cm (1 in) wide[4] and white to pale pink[5] to rosy[4] in color.
    • Pedicels: Very short.[4]
  • Fruit: Yellow, furry, edible.[5]

Cultivation

Fully hardy. Prefers full sun.[5] In China it is largely used as an ornamental, and the fruit is eaten but not prized. In peach growing regions throughout the world it is used as a source of rootstocks.[citation needed]

Varieties

  • P. davidiana var. alba has white flowers.[4]
  • P. davidiana var. rubra has deep rosy-colored flowers.[4]

Etymology

Prunus is the ancient Latin name for plum trees. Davidiana is named for L'Abbé Armand David (1826-1900), a missionary and collector of Chinese plants.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Rhodes, L.; Pollard, R.P.; Maxted, N. (2016). "Amygdalus davidiana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T50018774A50018778. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T50018774A50018778.en. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. ^ Ligneous Fl. Heilongjiang 308. 1986
  3. ^ a b "Prunus davidiana (Carrière) Franch. — the Plant List".
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Chittenden, Fred J., Synge, Patrick M., editors. 1977. “The Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening”, edn. 2, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198691068. Volume 3, pp. 1696
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hogan, Sean, chief consultant. 2003, 2004. "Flora A Gardener's Encyclopedia", Global Nook Publishing Pty Ltd, Timber Press. ISBN 0881925381. Volume 2, pp. 1093
  6. ^ "Prunus davidiana | David's peach/RHS Gardening".
  7. ^ Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 135, 316