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Jepson Interchange (more information)
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ROSACEAE

ROSE FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves simple to pinnately to palmately compound, generally alternate; stipules free to fused, persistent to deciduous
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium free or fused to ovary, saucer- to funnel-shaped, often with bractlets alternate with sepals; sepals generally 5; petals generally 5, free; stamens (0)5–many, pistils (0)1–many, simple or compound; ovary superior to inferior, styles 1–5
Fruit: achene, follicle, drupe, pome, or blackberry- to raspberry-like
Seeds generally 1–5
Genera in family: 110 genera, ± 3000 species: worldwide, especially temp. Many cultivated for ornamental and fruit, especially Cotoneaster , Fragaria , Malus , Prunus , Pyracantha, Rosa , and Rubus
Reference: [Robertson 1974 J Arnold Arbor 55:303–332,344–401,611–662]
Family description, key to genera by Barbara Ertter and Dieter H. Wilken.

PRUNUS

Dieter H. Wilken

Shrub or tree
Stem: bark gray to red-brown
Leaves generally alternate, simple, generally glabrous; stipules deciduous
Inflorescence: raceme or umbel-like cluster, often on short branchlets
Flower: hypanthium cup- to urn-shaped; sepals spreading to reflexed; stamens 15+, generally in 2+ whorls; pistil 1, ovary superior, chamber 1, ovules 2, style 1, stigma subspheric
Fruit: drupe, generally ovoid to spheric
Species in genus: ± 400 species: temp North America, Eurasia, n Africa; many cultivated for wood, ornamental, edible fruit; some persisting near human habitation (P. armeniaca , apricot; P. avium , sweet cherry; P. cerasus , sour cherry; P. domestica , plum; P. laurocerasus , laurel cherry; P. lusitanica , portugal laurel; P. mahaleb ; P. persica , peach). Seeds of many species ± TOXIC from production of hydrocyanic acid.

Native

P. fasciculata (Torr.) A. Gray

DESERT ALMOND

Shrub 1–2 m
Stem much-branched; twigs rigid, becoming ± spine-like
Leaves generally clustered, deciduous, subsessile; blade 7–15 mm, narrowly oblanceolate, generally entire, base tapered, tip acute to obtuse
Inflorescence: flowers 1–3, subsessile
Flower: sepals glabrous to sparsely puberulent; petals 2–4 mm, white to yellowish
Fruit 8–15 mm, ovoid to spheric, densely puberulent, gray to red-brown; pulp dry
Ecology: Slopes, canyons, washes, scrub, woodland
Elevation: < 2200 m.
Bioregional distribution: s High Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountain Area, s Central Coast, s Inner South Coast Ranges, n Transverse Ranges, e Peninsular Ranges, Desert
Distribution outside California: to Utah, Baja California

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