430 species of Prunus
five petals and five sepals
flowers white or pink
leaves toothed along the margin
originated in Asia
plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds
Prunus subgenera:
Subgenus Amygdalus: almonds and peaches.
species Prunus.dulcis - Common Almond
Species Dulcis
almonds
Species Prunus.persica - Peach, Nectarine
Species Prunus.persica - Peach, Nectarine
Peaches, Nectarines
Axillary buds in threes (vegetative bud central, two flower buds to sides).
Flowers not on leafed shoots.
Fruit with a groove along one side; stone deeply grooved.
Subgenus Prunus: plums and apricots.
Species Prunus.armeniaca - Apricot
Section Prunus
Species Prunus. domestica - plum
Subgenus Prunus,
Species Prunus. Domestica
Species Prunus. Cerasifera
Axillary buds solitary.
Flowers stalked, not on leafed shoots.
Fruit with a groove along one side; stone rough.
Type species Prunus domestica (Plum).
Subgenus Cerasus: cherries.
Species Prunus. avium - sweet Cherry
Species Prunus.cerasus - sour Cherry
Axillary buds single.
Flowers in early spring in corymbs,
long-stalked, not on leafed shoots.
Fruit not grooved; stone smooth.
Type species Prunus cerasus (Sour cherry).
Subgenus Lithocerasus: dwarf cherries.
Axillary buds in threes.
Flowers in early spring in corymbs, long-stalked, not on leafed shoots.
Fruit not grooved; stone smooth.
Type species Prunus pumila (Sand cherry).
Subgenus Padus: bird cherries.
Axillary buds single. Flowers in late spring in racemes on leafy shoots, short-stalked. Fruit not grooved; stone smooth. Type species Prunus padus (European bird cherry).
Subgenus Laurocerasus: cherry-laurels.
Axillary buds single. Flowers in early spring in racemes, not on leafed shoots, short-stalked. Fruit not grooved; stone smooth. Mostly evergreen (all the other subgenera are deciduous). Type species Prunus laurocerasus (European cherry-laurel).
