Peach

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Peach (Prunus persica)

Peach (Prunus persica) is a deciduous tree native to the region of Northwest China between the Tarim Basin and the north slopes of the Kunlun Mountains, where it was first domesticated and cultivated. It bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach.

Pronunciation

Peach is pronounced as /piːtʃ/.

Etymology

The term "peach" comes from the Middle English peche, derived from Middle French, which in turn comes from the Latin persica, i.e., "fruit from Persia". In ancient times, peaches were transported from Persia (modern-day Iran), hence the name.

Related Terms

  • Prunus: The genus of the peach tree.
  • Stone fruit: A type of fruit that includes peaches.
  • Deciduous: Trees that shed their leaves annually, like the peach tree.
  • Tarim Basin: The region where the peach tree was first domesticated.
  • Kunlun Mountains: The region where the peach tree was first cultivated.

Peach Fruit

The peach fruit is a drupe with a single large seed encased in hard wood (called the "stone" or "pit"), yellow or whitish flesh, a delicate aroma, and a skin that is either velvety (peaches) or smooth (nectarines) in different cultivars. The flesh can be either white or yellow, and either firm or soft. The single, large seed is red-brown, oval shaped and approximately 1.3–2 cm long. Peaches, along with cherries, plums and apricots, are stone fruits (drupes).

Peach Tree

The peach tree is a small, deciduous tree growing to 4–10 m (13–33 ft) tall, often with a tall, narrow crown; a few species are shrubby. The leaves are lanceolate, 7–16 cm (2.8–6.3 in) long, 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) broad, pinnately veined. The flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves; they are solitary or paired, 2.5–3 cm diameter, pink, with five petals.

External links

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