Prunus davidiana

Prunus davidiana
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific 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 (Carrière) Franch.
Synonyms [2]
Amygdalus davidiana Persica davidiana Prunus persica var. davidiana Prunus sibirica var. davidiana(Carrière) Y.L.Chou [3]

Prunus davidiana ^{[4] [5] [6] [2]} (syn. Amygdalus davidiana, ^[1] Persica davidiana, ^{[1] [4]} Prunus persicavar. 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. 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. "Prunus davidiana (Carrière) Franch. — the Plant List".
3. Ligneous Fl. Heilongjiang 308. 1986
4. 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. 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

External links

• "Prunus davidiana". Plants for a Future .