roosõieliste (Rosaceae) sugukonda toompuu (Prunus) perekonda kuuluv heitlehine viljapuu
tree of the rose family (Rosaceae)
Good to know
Almond trees are deciduous with a hardy dormancy. Typically growing 3–4.5 metres (10–15 feet) tall, the trees are strikingly beautiful when in flower; they produce fragrant, five-petaled, light pink to white flowers from late January to early April north of the Equator. The flowers are self-incompatible and thus require insect pollinators to facilitate cross-pollination with other cultivars. The growing fruit (a drupe) resembles a peach until it approaches maturity; as it ripens, the leathery outer covering, or hull, splits open, curls outward, and discharges the pit.
Good to know
There are two varieties: sweet almond (P. dulcis, variety dulcis) and bitter almond (P. dulcis, variety amara).
Harilik mandlipuu (P. dulcis) kultuuristati arvatavasti Kreekas umbes 5000–6000 aastat tagasi, teda kasvatatakse kuivas lähistroopikas viljapuuna. Magusaid seemneid – mandleid – süüakse maiustusena ja tarvitatakse kondiitritööstuses, neist pressitakse õli.
