Apr 1, 2007 ... April 2007. Prunus armeniaca L. (The Apricot). Text and Photographs by Bob
Mitchell. The apricot originated in Central Asia and North China ...
April 2007 Prunus armeniaca L. (The Apricot) Text and Photographs by Bob Mitchell The apricot originated in Central Asia and North China where it has allegedly been cultivated for its fruit for over 4000 years. Wild populations still exist in Tian Shan, a mountain range extending 1740 miles from Uzbeckistan eastward to the China/Pakistan/Kashmir borders and to the Karakorum mountain range in North Pakistan. Other populations occur on the North China border with Mongolia. It is now widely grown in warm temperate regions. Alexander the Great is reputed to have spread the apricot westward into Europe. The specific name relates to the apricots which were cultivated in, but not native to, Armenia. The apricot was well established in cultivation in Britain in the 16th century. Prunus is a large family comprising over 200 species of trees and shrubs which include other fruits such as the plum, damson, cherry, peach, nectarine and sloe. Linnaeus actually named 41 species and varieties of Prunus of which 14 species are still currently used. Prunus armeniaca was named by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum on page 474 in 1753 and was widely established in gardens by that time in south and central Europe for its fruit and in the north for its spring flower display. It is more than likely that this plant was grown by his father in the curate's garden at Rashult, for it is stated he had one of the best collections of plants in Sweden. Prunus armeniaca is a small tree growing up to 30', in ideal conditions, and with tortuous branches. In St Andrews the eight trees, which are free standing, are 10 to 15' high and flower every year in April. The leaves are ovate to round with an abrupt tip, while the flowers, which occur on spurs of the previous years growth, are almost stemless and produced in small clusters with white to pink petals. Fruit is rarely produced in St Andrews probably due to the late spring frosts or by the lack of pollinating insects because they flower so early. One of the trees has been given Champion Status (the largest in Britain) by the Tree Register of the British Isles (TROBI). Prunus armeniaca produces a fruit which is rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, and is made into jams, jellies and preserves. The fruit also dries well. The kernels produce an oil which is widely used in aromatherapy and face lotions, in balms and soaps. It is claimed to be nourishing to the skin and to contain anti-aging anti-oxidants. In the Hunza area of northern Pakistan the longevity of the populace is allegedly attributed to the apricot fruit being a constituent major part of their diet.
Cultivation. Apricots are best grown as a fan-trained tree in order to get as much shelter and heat from the south-facing wall. Like all stone fruits, a rich, well-drained, loamy, lime-rich soil is best. A dwarfing rootstock will hasten flowering. There are several cultivars available from specalist nurseries. The Scottish nursery, J Tweedie Fruit Trees in Dumfriesshire offers four cultivars - 'Early Moorpark', Golden Glow', 'Moorpark', which has been awarded an Award of Garden Merit, and 'New Early Large' which suggests they are all growable in favoured sites in Scotland.
Position. The row of trees on the south-east side of the car park were planted about 1970.
