Almond

Almond blossom in Rheinhessen early March

The almond tree (Prunus dulcis ) is a species of the genus Prunus in the rose family ( Rosaceae ). Its drupe, the edible Nährfleisch plant seedling ( endosperm), the almond will of man, used in many ways, especially as a food and as a cosmetic.

  • 4.1 almond cream
  • 4.2 almond oil
  • 5.1 Nutrition Facts
  • 5.2 almonds and health

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Prunus dulcis grows as a deciduous tree or shrub, reaching heights of growth (2 to ) 3-6 (up to 8) meters. The bark of young branches is bald, that of the previous year's branches is brown, later grayish - brown to grayish - black. The branches are erect or horizontal spread with many short branches. The brownish, ovoid winter buds are 3-5 mm long and glabrous.

There are two possibilities for the arrangement of the leaves: the previous year's branches, they are usually alternate, on short shoots, they are closer to each other and often concentrated in bunches. All leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The usually 1-2, rarely up to 3 centimeters long, hairless petiole has two to four rounded nectar glands at its upper end. The leaf blade is easy, 3-6, rarely up to 9 inches long and 1 to 2.5 inches wide, lanceolate to elliptical- lanceolate and acuminate acute to short at the top. The base of the leaf blade is wedge-shaped to rounded. The leaf margin is cut short and close. The leaf surface initially has a light, soft hair, and later verkahlt.

Generative features

The March-April before the leaves unfolding opening flowers are individually. The bald flower stalk is initially 3 to 4 millimeters long and increases to fruit maturity at 4 to 10 millimeters.

The hermaphrodite, radiärsymmetrische, fivefold flower has a double perianth. The cylindrical flower cup ( hypanthium ) is outside glabrous, (rarely 5 to ) 6-8 mm long and 3-5 mm thick. The five ganzrandigen sepals are 5-6 mm long, broadly oblong to broadly lanceolate, obtuse, glabrous outside, hairy fluffy on the edge. The five free, white or pink, blunt to ausgerandeten petals are oblong to oblong - verkehrteiförmig and nailed with a length of 1.2 to 2 inches and a width of 0.7 to 1.1 centimeters. The many stamens are of unequal length. The ovary is densely hairy woolly. The stylus is longer than the stamens.

The densely hairy fluffy stone fruits are flattened, obliquely ovate to oblong- ovate and have a length of 3 to 4.3 inches and a diameter of 2 to 3 centimeters on. The thin mesocarp jumps up at maturity. The yellowish-white to brown endocarp is ovate, broadly ellipsoidal or short oblong, asymmetrical on both sides, 2.5 and 3 (up to 4 ) inches long, hard- to fragile; the ventral suture is curved and more or less keeled pointed, the back seam is mostly straight, the surface is smooth, perforated and sometimes slightly furrowed. The seeds taste sweet or bitter. The fruits ripen from July to August.

The almond tree is diploid with a chromosome number of 2n = 16

System

The almond tree belongs within the genus Prunus in the subgenus Amygdalus, which is treated by some authors as a separate genus Amygdalus. The valid scientific name of almond in the genus Amygdalus (Amygdalus communis L.) was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum. Under Prunus Prunus communis combination published in 1882 is (L.) Arcang. not available because this name the younger homonym of 1778 incurred name Prunus communis Huds. is that as a synonym of plum (Prunus domestica) is attributable.

The next available epithet was introduced in 1768 by Philip Miller as Amygdalus dulcis Miller, the combination Prunus dulcis was published by David Allardice Webb until 1967. The name Prunus amygdalus Batsch often used in older literature has lower priority since it was first published in 1801.

Other synonyms for Prunus dulcis (Mill.) DAWebb are: Amygdalus amara Duhamel, Amygdalus sativa Mill, Prunus dulcis var amara ( DC.) Buchheim.

Natural spread and location

The almond tree is a high probability of Southwest Asia; its natural sites are bushes on sunny slopes on rocky soils at an altitude 700-1700 m. The Wild deposits range from the Levant over North and East Anatolia, South Caucasus, northern Iraq, Iran and South Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. However, the distinction of wild and feral occurrence is difficult.

Use

A distinction is made between the sweet almond and bitter almond of. Sweet almonds have a cinnamon-brown, rough skin. The removal of this skin is facilitated by scalding the almonds with boiling water. Almonds are to Rohgenuss, for pastries, for decorating (splinter, leaves), used for filling of olives and the production of roasted almonds, liqueur and marzipan. Bitter almonds are not suitable for Rohgenuss because they contain amygdalin, a cyanide -producing glycoside.

The almond tree has been cultivated for about 4,000 years. He is Planted today primarily in the United States (California ) and in the Mediterranean, also in Pakistan and Iran. 2010, the world production of 890,000 metric tons (t ), of which 750,000 tonnes or 84% to the United States, 90,000 tonnes (10.1%) in the EU -27 countries, 30,000 t ( 3.3 %) to Australia and one each 10,000 t ( 1.1%) on Turkey and Chile. The U.S. production comes from 100% California.

In addition, the almond in central Europe matures in wine -growing regions: there she was probably introduced together with the wine of the Romans. A German variety is the so-called Dürkheimer crash almond.

The French cultivation consists of the varieties Ferragnes (approximately 60%) and Ferraduel ( about 30 % of production). The latter is used in view of its flat shape, mainly for the manufacture of dragées. These fruits are ripe about the middle of September. Among non-European varieties, the most marketed Almond is the Nonpareil almond with California origin. At almonds from Spain especially the Marcona is famous; all other categories are marketed under the name Valencia. In Italy, one finds particularly the Avola.

Among the French almonds almond Aï symbolizes the coronation; it grows in Provence. This ancient, cultivated for more than 100 years, variety is very much appreciated by the confectioners, as it is very sweet. Currently, a single pastry reserved the whole production. The same applies to the Ferrastar that is bought by a single chocolate manufacturer. Easier to find on the market is also highly appreciated Ferragnes almond with a good, sweet flavor. It is suitable for various processing. The Avola Almond is very popular and is for their perfumed aroma attention. It is mainly processed in dragees. You can compare it to the Marcona, a small Spanish almond with typical flavor that is used among other things for nougat and Turróns.

Almond cream

Almond cream can be prepared diluted as cold or hot drink with water. It is also used for the preparation of desserts, ice cream or flan. The Spanish almond cream, see figure, consists of almonds, glucose, sugar and water.

Almond oil

Under the name of almond oil one always sees the odorless fine fat vegetable oil contained in both the sweet and the bitter in the almonds. The essential almond oil, which can only be obtained from bitter almonds, says the trade is always bitter almond oil.

Nutritional Physiology

Nutrition Facts

Almonds contain almond oil, traces of sugars as well as various vitamins, minerals and fats. The content of calcium, magnesium and potassium is higher than that of nuts.

Almonds and health

Epidemiological studies suggest that regular consumption of almonds and walnuts can help to reduce the mortality due to cardiovascular disease. How can halve the risk of heart disease every day, the consumption of only 20 g almonds; In addition, they are known for their cholesterol-lowering effect. In addition, almonds contain an increased amount of folic acid, which is very important especially during pregnancy; 100 g almonds cover 6.25% of the daily requirement of folic acid to a pregnant woman.

Gallery

Mandelbaum:

Almond blossom in early April 2009

Green almonds on tree

Unripe almonds in early June

Processing:

Open shell of an almond

Add sugar roasted almonds

Mature different almond varieties

Ripe almonds with a variety shell (some still in the outer shell ). This almond locations can be turn on by hand because the skin is thin and soft.

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