Prunus dulcis amara
Definition
Noun: * Almond tree with bitter nuts: A specific type of almond tree (Prunus dulcis var. amara) characterized by white blossoms. Its nuts are poisonous when raw due to the presence of amygdalin, a compound that can release cyanide. The oil extracted from these bitter almonds is used in small, controlled quantities for flavoring foods and in some medicinal applications.
Usage Notes
- This term is a scientific botanical name. In everyday language, the tree and its nuts are more commonly referred to as "bitter almond."
- The key distinction from the common edible almond ( var. , or sweet almond) is the toxicity of its raw nuts and the intense flavor of its derived products.
- The oil must be properly processed to remove the toxic components before it is safe for use.
Examples
- The Prunus dulcis amara is cultivated not for its nuts but for the oil derived from them.
- The flavoring in this marzipan comes from the oil of Prunus dulcis amara.
- Unlike sweet almonds, the nuts of Prunus dulcis amara contain amygdalin.
Advanced Usage
- In botanical and horticultural contexts, the full Latin binomial is used for precise classification.
- In pharmacology and food science, the term may appear when discussing the source of benzaldehyde (the primary compound responsible for the almond flavor) or the purification process for bitter almond oil.
Variants and Related Words
- Bitter almond (n): The common name for the tree and its nuts.
- Amygdalin (n): The cyanogenic glycoside present in the raw nuts of .
- Benzaldehyde (n): The primary aromatic compound derived from bitter almond oil, used for flavoring.
- Prunus dulcis (n): The species name for the almond tree, which includes both bitter and sweet varieties.
Synonyms
- Bitter almond tree
- var. (an older botanical synonym)
Important Note
- There are no idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this specific scientific term. Its usage is strictly technical.
Noun
-
almond trees having white blossoms and poisonous nuts yielding an oil used for flavoring and for medicinal purposes
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