Prunus andersonii

Description

Prunus andersonii is a deciduous shrub approaching 2 m in height, its tangling branches narrowing to spiny-tipped twigs. Serrated, lance-shaped to oval leaves occur in clusters, each leaf measuring up to 3 cm long. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or pair of flowers. Each flower has usually five concave pink petals each just under 1 cm long, with many whiskerlike stamens at the center. Flowers bloom before or at the same time as the leaves appear.

The fruit is a fuzzy reddish-orange drupe around 1 cm wide. The fruits are fleshy in years with ample moisture, and dry in drought years. The seed is a heart-shaped stone. The plant reproduces sexually via germination of the seed, and vegetatively by sprouting from its rhizome. One plant may sprout and resprout from its rhizomes to form a very large clone which can spread over several acres.

Desert peach Prunus andersonii flowers close.jpg|Flowering branch with long gray spines

Taxonomy

It was named after Charles Lewis Anderson by Asa Gray.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in forests and scrub in desert and mountains.

Ecology

Many rodents collect and eat the fruits and cache the seeds.

Uses

The fruit is reportedly edible. Among Native American groups, the Paiute used this plant for making tea and medicinal remedies, and the Cahuilla considered the fruit a delicacy.

References

References

1. Rhodes, L.. (2018). "''Amygdalus andersonii''". [[IUCN]].
2. [http://www.tropicos.org/Name/27801085 Tropicos, ''Prunus andersonii'' A. Gray]
3. [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/pruand/all.html US Forest Service Fire Ecology]
4. [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250100384 Flora of North America, ''Prunus andersonii'' A. Gray, 1868. Desert peach ]
5. (1868). "Characters of New Plants of California and Elsewhere . . .". Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts.
6. [http://bonap.net/MapGallery/State/Prunus%20andersonii.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map]
7. [http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=6886 Calflora taxon report, University of California, ''Prunus andersonii'' A. Gray desert peach ]
8. (2014). "Trees & Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest". [[Timber Press]].
9. [http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Prunus+andersonii University of Michigan Ethnobotany]