Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
peach
Family Name:
Rosaceae
Botanical Name:
Prunus persica
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
P. persica is a medium sized tree. The bark is smooth and has a reddish brown color, which gains a rougher texture when mature. Its branches are fast growing and have lance shaped leaves that are around 4 inches long and 1.2 in in width. The flowers are a light shade of pink and occasionally white, with five petals. The peach fruit is 2- 3 inches wide and weighs about six ounces on average. It can be red, pink, yellow, white, or a combination of any of these. Its has a fuzzy, thin, outer layer of skin. The fleshy interior is about 87% water and encases a hard stone, or pit.
Compound:
Pru per
Geographic Origin:
East Asia
Ecozone Origin:
Palearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The Peach is thought to most likely to have originated in China as early as 2000 B.C. It was spread westward into Asia and parts of Europe by the Greeks and the Romans. The Spanish explorers were responsible for introducing the Peach to the New World. For hundreds of years, the Peach was only grown by noble beings. It was not until the 19th century that large scale peach growing began in the United States.
Cultivation Notes:
This tree can withstand temperatures to -10F. The best soil for the peach tree is mellow, unexhausted loam, mixed with vegetable mould or manure. The plant can be budded on plum or almond stocks. For dry soil, the almond stocks are preferable; for damp or clayey loam, it is better to use a certain kinds of plum
Ethnobotany:
In addition to the edible nature of the peach, the leaves, bark, and flowers are used to treat coughs, bronchitis, jaundice, and gastric indigestion. A powder made from the leaves can also be used to stop bleeding.
Height:
Width:
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Flower Season:
Color:
Pink
Function:
Spread:
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Water Use:
Citations:
- [http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/peach-17.html] [http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/fruit/peach.html]
- [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/fruits/peach1.htm ]
- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/447786/peach ]
