|
Habitats
|
|
|
Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
|
|
Edible Uses
|
|
Edible Parts: Fruit; Oil; Oil; Seed.
Edible Uses: Gum; Oil; Oil.
Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[1, 2, 3, 34]. The best forms are soft and juicy with a delicious rich flavour[K]. Wild trees in the Himalayas yield about 47.5kg of fruit per year[194].The fruit of the wild form contains about 6.3% sugars, 0.7% protein, 2.5% ash, 2.5% pectin. There is about 10mg vitamin C per 100g of pulp[194]. The fruit is about 5cm in diameter and contains one large seed[200]. Seed - raw or cooked[183]. Bitter seeds should be eaten in strict moderation, but sweet ones can be eaten freely[132]. The bitter seeds can be used as a substitute for bitter almonds in making marzipan etc[4]. An edible gum is obtained from the trunk[64]. The seed contains up to 50% of an edible semi-drying oil[4, 57, 61, 183].
|
|
|
|
|
Medicinal Uses
|
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Analgesic; Anthelmintic; Antiasthmatic; Antidote; Antipyretic; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Antitussive; Demulcent; Emetic; Emollient;
Expectorant; Laxative; Ophthalmic; Pectoral; Sedative; Tonic; Vulnerary.
Apricot fruits contain citric and tartaric acid, carotenoids and flavonoids[283]. They are nutritious, cleansing and mildly laxative[254. They are a valuable addition to the diet working gently to improve overall health. The salted fruit is antiinflammatory and antiseptic[283]. It is used medicinally in Vietnam in the treatment of respiratory and digestive diseases[283]. Antipyretic, antiseptic, emetic, ophthalmic[194]. The flowers are tonic, promoting fecundity in women[218]. The bark is astringent[254]. The inner bark and/or the root are used for treating poisoning caused by eating bitter almond and apricot seeds (which contain hydrogen cyanide)[218]. Another report says that a decoction of the outer bark is used to neutralize the effects of hydrogen cyanide[238]. The decoction is also used to soothe inflamed and irritated skin conditions[254]. The seed is analgesic, anthelmintic, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, antitussive, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, pectoral, sedative and vulnerary[176, 218]. It is used in the treatment of asthma, coughs, acute or chronic bronchitis and constipation[176, 279]. The seed contains 'laetrile', a substance that has also been called vitamin B17[218]. This has been claimed to have a positive effect in the treatment of cancer, but there does not at present seem to be much evidence to support this[K]. The pure substance is almost harmless, but on hydrolysis it yields hydrocyanic acid, a very rapidly acting poison - it should thus be treated with caution[218]. In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being[238].
|
|
|
Other Uses
|
Adhesive; Dye; Gum; Oil; Oil; Wood.
An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed[57]. Used for lighting[194]. The oil has a softening effect on the skin and so it is used in perfumery and cosmetics, and also in pharmaceuticals[4, 61]. A green dye can be obtained from the leaves[168]. A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit[168]. Wood - handsome, hard, durable. Agricultural implements etc[146, 194].
|
|
|
Cultivation details
|
|
|
Requires a well-drained moisture retentive fertile soil in a warm sunny position[11, 200]. Succeeds in light shade but fruits better in a sunny position[200]. Thrives in a loamy soil, doing well on limestone[11]. Prefers some chalk in the soil but is apt to become chlorotic if too much is present[11]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 to 7.5[200]. Dislikes clay soils[37, 61]. Intolerant of saline soils[200]. Trees drop their fruit buds if there is a summer drought[200]. The apricot is widely cultivated for its edible fruit in temperate areas that have long hot summers, there are many named varieties[183, 200]. The tree is perfectly hardy in Britain but it usually flowers very early in the spring and the flowers are then liable to be destroyed by frosts[11]. It really requires a more continental climate (with its clearly defined seasons) than it gets in Britain. However, if given the benefit of a south or west facing wall and some protection from frosts when it is in flower, reasonable crops can usually be produced in southern England[1, 219]. The plants are self-fertile[200], but hand pollination would be advisable since they are normally flowering before many pollinating insects are active. In Britain apricots are usually grown on plum rootstocks, 'St. Julien A' is the most widely used[200]. The dwarfing rootstock 'Pixie' is also a possibility, but this must be double worked with 'St. Julien A' because it is incompatible with apricots[200]. Any pruning should be carried out in the summer to allow rapid healing and therefore less risk of infection[201]. Oats should not be grown near apricots because their roots have an antagonistic effect on the roots of the apricot[201]. Tomatoes and potatoes are also bad companions for apricots[201]. If nasturtiums (Tropaeoleum spp) are grown under apricots they will make the fruit less palatable to insects, though this is not detectable by the human palate[201]. Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged[238]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].
|
|
|
|
|
|
Propagation
|
|
|
Seed - requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[200]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[200]. Protect the seed from mice etc. The seed can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate[113]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame[11, 200]. Difficult[113]. Softwood cuttings from strongly growing plants in spring to early summer in a frame[200]. Difficult. Layering in spring.
|
 You can download this page as a PDF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Botanical References
|
|
|
11200266
|
|
|
|
|
|
Links / References
|
|
|
[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
|
[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
|
|
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
|
|
|
[2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
|
|
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
|
|
|
[3]Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit.
|
|
A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.
|
|
|
[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
|
|
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
|
|
|
[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
|
|
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
|
|
|
[34]Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants.
|
|
Good drawings of some of the more common food plants from around the world. Not much information though.
|
|
|
[37]Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant.
|
|
Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.
|
|
|
[57]Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
|
|
Fairly readable but not very comprehensive. Deals with plants from around the world.
|
|
|
[61]Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
|
|
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[64]Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins.
|
|
A very good book dealing with the subject in a readable way.
|
|
|
[113]Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
|
|
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[132]Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
|
|
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.
|
|
|
[146]Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers.
|
|
Written last century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[168]Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants.
|
|
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
|
|
|
[176]Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.
|
|
An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.
|
|
|
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
|
|
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
|
|
|
[194]Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K. Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
|
|
Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
|
|
|
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
|
|
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
|
|
|
[201]Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting.
|
|
A well produced and very readable book.
|
|
|
[218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China
|
|
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
|
|
|
[219]Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls
|
|
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
|
|
|
[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
|
|
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
|
|
|
[254]Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
|
|
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
|
|
|
[266] Flora of China
|
|
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.
|
|
|
[279] Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea
|
|
An excellent book with terse details about the medicinal uses of the plants with references to scientific trials. All plants are described, illustrated and brief details of habitats given.
|
|
|
[283]Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
|
|
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
|
|
|
[301]Karalliedde. L. and Gawarammana. I. Traditional Herbal Medicines
|
|
A guide to the safer use of herbal medicines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
QR Code
|
|
|
|
What's this?
|
|
This is a QR code (short for Quick Response) which gives fast-track access to our website pages. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by mobile phone (smartphone) cameras. This QR Code is unique to this page. All plant pages have their own unique code. For more information about QR Codes click here.
|
|
1. Copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, website, magazines, newspaper etc and even t-shirts.
|
|
2. Smartphone users scan the QR Code which automatically takes them to the webpage the QR Code came from.
|
|
3. Smartphone users quickly have information on a plant directly for the pfaf.org website on their phone.
|
|
|
|
Rate This Plant
|
|
|
Please rate this plants for how successful you have found it to be. You will need to be logged in to do this. Our intention is not to create a list of 'popular' plants but rather to highlight plants that may be rare and unusual and that have been found to be useful by website users. This hopefully will encourage more people to use plants that they possibly would not have considered before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Add a comment/link
|
|
|
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
|
Subject : Prunus armeniaca
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|