Prunusdulcis(Mill.)D.A.Webb.

CommonName Family Synonyms

Almond Rosaceae P.amygdalus.P.communis.L. Amygdaluscommunis.A.dulcis.

KnownHazards

Althoughnospecific mentionhasbeenseenforthis species,itbelongstoagenus wheremost,ifnotallmembersof thegenusproducehydrogen cyanide,apoisonthatgives almondstheircharacteristic flavour.Thistoxinisfoundmainly intheleavesandseedandis readilydetectedbyitsbittertaste. Itisusuallypresentintoosmalla quantitytodoanyharmbutany verybitterseedorfruitshouldnot beeaten.Insmallquantities, hydrogencyanidehasbeen showntostimulaterespiration andimprovedigestion,itisalso claimedtobeofbenefitinthe treatmentofcancer.Inexcess, however,itcancauserespiratory failureandevendeath.
Cultivatedground,thickets, hedgesandrockyplacesnear cultivation[89]. EuropeE.MediterraneantoC. Asia.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:94_Amygdalus_communis_L.jpg

Habitats

Range

EdibilityRating

MedicinalRating Care

Summary

PhysicalCharacteristics

PrunusdulcisisadeciduousTreegrowingto6m(19ft)by6m(19ft). Itishardytozone7.ItisinflowerfromMartoApril,andtheseedsripenin October.Theflowersarehermaphrodite(havebothmaleandfemaleorgans) andarepollinatedbyInsects.Theplantisselffertile. Suitablefor:light(sandy),medium(loamy)andheavy(clay)soilsandprefers welldrainedsoil.SuitablepH:acid,neutralandbasic(alkaline)soils.Itcannot growintheshade.Itprefersmoistsoil.

Habitats
WoodlandGardenSecondarySunnyEdgeDappledShadeSouthWall.By.WestWall.By. EdibleUses EdibleParts:OilOilSeed. EdibleUses:GumGumMilkOilOil.

Seedraw,cookedordriedandgroundintoapowderforuseinconfectionsetc[7,183].Thewholeseedcanalsoberoasted,sproutedorusedincakes,confectionery andpastry[183].Thesweetflavouredformshaveadeliciousflavourbutbitterformsshouldnotbeeateninanyquantityseethenotesaboveontoxicity.Theseedis somewhatdifficulttodigestandsoneedstobethoroughlymasticated[4].Itcanbeblendedwithwatertomakealmondmilk[183].Anedibleoilisobtainedfromthe seed[183].Itisusedmainlyasafoodflavouringandincooking[57,105].Anediblegumisobtainedfrompointsofdamageonthestems[64]. MedicinalUses

PlantsForAFuturecannottakeanyresponsibilityforanyadverseeffectsfromtheuseofplants.Alwaysseekadvicefromaprofessionalbeforeusingaplant medicinally.

medicinally. AntiemeticAntitumorDemulcentEmollientMiscellanyNutritivePectoral. Aswellasbeingatastyadditiontothediet,almondsarealsobeneficialtotheoverallhealthofthebody,beingusedespeciallyinthetreatmentofkidneystones, gallstonesandconstipation[238].Externally,theoilisappliedtodryskinsandisalsooftenusedasacarrieroilinaromatherapy[238,K].Theseedisdemulcent, emollient,laxative,nutritiveandpectoral[4,7,21].Whenusedmedicinally,thefixedoilfromtheseedisnormallyemployed4].Theseedcontains'laetrile',asubstance thathasalsobeencalledvitaminB17[218].Thishasbeenclaimedtohaveapositiveeffectinthetreatmentofcancer,buttheredoesnotatpresentseemtobemuch evidencetosupportthis[K].Thepuresubstanceisalmostharmless,butonhydrolysisityieldshydrocyanicacid,averyrapidlyactingpoisonitshouldthusbetreated withcaution[218].Insmallamountsthisexceedinglypoisonouscompoundstimulatesrespiration,improvesdigestionandgivesasenseofwellbeing[238].Theleaves areusedinthetreatmentofdiabetes[218].Theplantcontainstheantitumourcompoundtaxifolin[218]. OtherUses AdhesiveCleanserCosmeticDyeGumGumMiscellanyOilOilSoapmaking. Anoilexpressedfromtheseedsisanexcellentlubricantindelicatemechanismssuchaswatches[4].Itisoftenusedinsoapsandcosmeticsbecauseithasa softeningeffectontheskin[4,7].Agreendyecanbeobtainedfromtheleaves[168].Adarkgreytogreendyecanbeobtainedfromthefruit[168].Ayellowdyeis obtainedfromtherootsandleaves[148].Thebruisedleaves,whenrubbedwithinanycontainer,willremovestrongodourssuchasgarlicorclovessolongasany greasehasfirstbeenfullycleanedoff[4].Agumfromthestemsisusedasanadhesive[64].Theburntshellyieldsavaluableabsorbentforcoalgas[74].Theburnt pericarpisrichinpotassium,itisusedinsoapmaking[74].Theseedcontainsamygdallin,undertheinfluenceofwaterandinthepresenceofemulsionitcanbe hydrolizedtoproducebenzaldehyde(thealmondaroma,formulaC6H5CHO)andprussicacid(thetoxicprinciple)[74].