![]() The oldest archaeological peach stones are from the Kuahuqiao site near Hangzhou. More recent evidence indicates that domestication occurred as early as 6000 BC in Zhejiang Province of China. Until recently, cultivation was believed to have started around 2000 BC. History ĭried date, peach, apricot, and stones from Lahun, Fayum, Egypt, Late Middle Kingdom, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, LondonĪlthough its botanical name Prunus persica refers to Persia, genetic studies suggest peaches originated in China, where they have been cultivated since the Neolithic period. In the absence of evidence that the plants were in other ways identical to the modern peach, the name Prunus kunmingensis has been assigned to these fossils. The scientific name, Prunus persica, literally means "Persian plum", as it is closely related to the plum.įossil endocarps with characteristics indistinguishable from those of modern peaches have been recovered from late Pliocene deposits in Kunming, dating to 2.6 million years ago. The Ancient Romans referred to the peach as malum persicum ("Persian apple"), later becoming French pêche, whence the English "peach". The scientific name persica, along with the word "peach" itself – and its cognates in many European languages – derives from an early European belief that peaches were native to Persia (modern-day Iran). In some regions orchards are replanted after 8 to 10 years, while in others trees may produce satisfactorily for 20 to 25 years or more, depending upon their resistance to diseases, pests, and winter damage. Peach trees are relatively short-lived as compared with some other fruit trees. Low-acid, white-fleshed peaches are the most popular kinds in China, Japan, and neighbouring Asian countries, while Europeans and North Americans have historically favoured the acidic, yellow-fleshed cultivars. Both colors often have some red on their skins. Peaches with white flesh typically are very sweet with little acidity, while yellow-fleshed peaches typically have an acidic tang coupled with sweetness, though this also varies greatly. Ĭultivated peaches are divided into clingstones and freestones, depending on whether the flesh sticks to the stone or not both can have either white or yellow flesh. The various heirloom varieties including the 'Indian Peach', or 'Indian Blood Peach', which ripens in the latter part of the summer, and can have color ranging from red and white, to purple. Peaches, along with cherries, plums, and apricots, are stone fruits ( drupes). The single, large seed is red-brown, oval shaped, around 1.3–2 cm long, and surrounded by a wood-like husk. ![]() The flesh is very delicate and easily bruised in some cultivars, but is fairly firm in some commercial varieties, especially when green. The fruit has yellow or whitish flesh, a delicate aroma, and a skin that is either velvety (peaches) or smooth (nectarines) in different cultivars. ![]() The flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves they are solitary or paired, 2.5–3 cm diameter, pink, with five petals. The leaves are lanceolate, 7–16 cm (3– 6 + 1⁄ 2 in) long, 2–3 cm ( 3⁄ 4– 1 + 1⁄ 4 in) broad, and pinnately veined. ![]() Prunus persica grows up to 7 m (23 ft) tall and wide, but when pruned properly, trees are usually 3–4 m (10–13 ft) tall and wide. In 2018, China produced 62% of the world total of peaches and nectarines. The skin of nectarines lacks the fuzz (fruit-skin trichomes) that peach skin has a mutation in a single gene ( MYB25) is thought to be responsible for the difference between the two. Peaches and nectarines are the same species, though they are regarded commercially as different fruits. Due to their close relatedness, the kernel of a peach stone tastes remarkably similar to almond, and peach stones are often used to make a cheap version of marzipan, known as persipan. The peach is classified with the almond in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated seed shell ( endocarp). It belongs to the genus Prunus, which includes the cherry, apricot, almond, and plum, in the rose family. The specific name persica refers to its widespread cultivation in Persia (modern-day Iran), from where it was transplanted to Europe. ![]() It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties), nectarines. The peach ( Prunus persica) is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. Persica potaninii (Batalin) Kovalev & Kostina. ![]()
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