AVMOND, Amygdolus, a genus of the natural order roeacece (q.v.), sub-order amyg dale(e or Drupacer, consisting of trees or shrubs, distinguished by the coarsely furrowed and wrinkled shell (endocarp or putamen) of the drupe, and by the young leaves being conduplicate, or having their sides folded together. According to the greater number of botanists, it includes the PEACH (q.v.), constituted by some into a distinct genus, pereica, in which the drupe has a fleshy covering (marcocarp), whereas in the species to which the name A. is commonly given, this part is a dry fibrous husk, which shrivels as the fruit ripens, and finally opens of its own accord. The A.-tree (anzygdcans is very similar to the peach-tree, and is distinguished from it principally, besides the difference of the fruit, by the fine glandulous serratures of the leaves, the stalk of which equals. or even exceeds, in length the breadth of the blade. It is a tree about 20 to 30 ft. high, a native of the east and of Africa, but has now become completely wild in the whole s. of Europe. Even in the more northern parts of Germany and of Britain it is planted for the sake of its beautiful flowers, which are produced in great abundance, and resemble those of the peach in form and often in color, although generally paler and sometimes white. The blossoms appear before the leaves, and are very ornamental in shrubberies in March and April; and even when frosts destroy the germ of the fruit, the brilliancy of the flower is not impaired. The wood of the A.-tree is hard, and of a reddish color. and is used by cabinet-makers. etc. But it is chiefly valued on account of the kernel of its fruit, well known by the name of ALMONDS, and forming an impor tant article of commerce, for the sake of which it is extensively cultivated in the s. of Europe and other countries of similar climate. It is mentioned in the Old Testa ment, and appears to have been cultivated from a very early period. It was introduced into Britain as a fruit-tree before the middle of the 16th c.; but it is only in the most favored situations in the s. of England that it ever produces good fruit.—..A.linonds are either sweet or bitter. The bitter appear to be the original kind, and the sweet to be an accidental variety, perpetuated and improved by cultivation. SWEET ALMONDS contain a large quantity of a very bland, fixed oil, emulsion, gum, and mucilage sugar, are of a very agreeable taste, and very nutritious, and are used in the dessert, in confec tionery, and medicinally in an emulsion, which forms a pleasant, cooling, diluent drink.
Birrtat ALMONDS contain the same substances, and, in addition, a substance called amygdalin, from which is obtained a peculiar volatile oil. (For the oils derived from almonds, see the following articles).—The muddy water of the Nile is clarified by rubbing bitter almonds on the sides of the water-vessels, in the same way in which the nuts of the stryehnos potatorum (see CLEARING NUT) are used in India. The principal varieties of A. in cultivation are : the common sweet A., with thick hard shell ; the with a very thin, almost leathery, brittle shell, and sweet kernels ; the bitter A., with thick hard shell (sometimes also with a brittle shell), and bitter kernels ; the large fruited, with large flowers of a whitish rose-color, and very large sweet fruit; the small fruited, with very small sweet fruit; and the peach A., with a slightly succulent blackish sareoearp (see above), yellow shell, and sweet kernels. The sarcocarp is, in the different varieties, more or less dry, or somewhat fleshy and juicy, so that some authors have disputed even the specific distinction between the A. and the peach. In commerce the long almonds of Malaga, known as Jordan almonds, and the broad almonds of Valencia, are most valued. Large quantities of almonds are annually im ported into Britain and America from France, Spain, Italy, and the Levant. Bitter ' almonds are brought to Britain chiefly from Mogadore.—The DWARF A. (A. Rana) is very similar to the common A., except that it is a low shrub, seldom more than 2 or 3 ft. in height. Its fruit is also similar, but much smaller. It is common in the plains of the s. of Russia, and is frequently planted as an ornamental shrub in Britain, flower ing freely in March and April, but not producing fruit. It is very beautiful when covered with its pink flowers in spring, and deserves to be more frequently planted than it is. A sheltered but sunny situation is favorable to it —Other species, little known, but very similar to these, are found in the east, and one on arid hills in Mexico.