Prunus persica, (L.) Batsch

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 78

1. P. persica (L.) Batsch , Beytr. Entw. Pragm. Gesch. Nat.- Reiche 30 (1801)

( Persica vulgaris Miller ).

Tree up to 6 m with straight, glabrous, reddish, angular twigs. Leaves 5-15 x 2-4 cm, oblong-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, serrulate, glabrescent. Flowers subsessile, mostly solitary; hypanthium about as wide as long; sepals tomentose; petals 10-20 mm, deep (rarely pale) pink. Fruit 40-80 mm, globose, velutinous (glabrous in var. nucipersica (Borkh.) C. K. Schneider , the nectarine), yellow or pale green, tinged with red; mesocarp succulent, pale green or orange; endocarp deeply sulcate. Extensively cultivated for its fruits (peaches) as a field crop in S. & S.C. Europe, and on a small scc-le in gardens further north; occasionally escaping and locally naturalized. [Al Au BI Bu Co Cr Cz G a Ge G r He Hs Hu It Ju Lu Rm Rs (W, K, E) Sa Si Tu.] (China.)