AMY'ODALUS, a genus of plants, the type of the nub-order Amygdalea., comprehending the almond, and the peach and nectarine, besides a few bushes, the chief interest of which arises from their gay appearance.
A. eommunis, the Common Almond, is a native of Barbary, whence it had not been transferred into Italy in the time of Cato ; it has, however, been so long cultivated all over the month of Europe and the temperate parts of Asia as to have become, as it were, naturalised in the whole of the Old World from Madrid to Canton. In this country, it is only grown for the sake of its beautiful vernal flowers ; but in the countries that have a long and hot summer, it is the fruit for which it is esteemed. This, which is produced in very large quantities, is partly exported into northern countries, and partly pressed for oil, or consumed for various domestic purposes. Although botanists distinguish only one species of eatable almond, yet there are many varieties, of which the principal are the Bitter Almond and the Sweet Almond ; of each of which the French and Italians have several sub-varieties distinguished by the hardneas or softness of their shell, and the form or size of the kernel. These have all been introduced into England, but none of them are capable of ripening their fruit in the neighbourhood of London, except in unusually fine hot summers, preceded by mild and uninterrupted springs.
A. Persica, the Peach, once called the Persian Apple, because it was introduced from that country into Europe, has for ages been an object of careful cultivation for the sake of its delicious fruit, and has almost naturalised itself in America. In the country round about Buenoa Ayres it is one of the most conspicuous trees, and bears abundant and delicious fruit. In our gardens many varieties are known, which are classed under the two heads of peaches and nectarines according as their fruit is smooth or downy; of the varieties there are few that are not worthy of cultivation, but the best are, perhaps, the Red Magdalen Peach, the Noblesse Peach, the Royal George Peach, and the Smith's Newington or Tawny Nectarine. For a late crop of
peaches, the Teton de Venue may be recommended ; but not the Catherine, nor indeed any of the thick-skinned October peaches, which, however excellent in the south of Europe, seldom ripen, and never acquire their natural flavour in this country. For preserving, the Blood-Red Peach, or Sanguinole, the flesh of which is of the deepest crimson, is worth a place in a garden.
AMYRI'DACEiE, A myrids, a natural order of plants consisting of tropical trees or shrubs, the leaves, bark, and fruit of which abound in fragrant resin. It is known among the Polypetalous Dicotyledonous orders by its hypogynous stamens, which are twice as numerous as the petals, by the large disk in which the ovarium is inserted, by its one-seeded fleshy fruit, covered all over with resinous glands, and generally dotted leaves.
The species are natives of tropical India, Africa, and America.
This order is remarkable for yielding various fragrant resins as Myrrh, Frankincense, and other products. The Frankincense of India is the produce of a species of Botacellia. Olibanum is yielded by Botwellia senates. Myrrh is obtained on the Abyssinian coast from the Balsamodendron myrrha. B. Opobalsamum yields the Balm of Mecca. Bdellium is produced in Africa by B. Africanum. American Elemi comes from lc-lea Icicariba. Resin of Courina from I. ambroaiaca. The Gum Elemi of commerce is said to be yielded by several species of Amyris. (Lindley, Vegetable Kingdom.)