Prunus andersonii

Prunus andersonii is a species of shrub in the rose family, part of the same genus as the peach, cherry, and almond. Its common names include desert peach and desert almond.

Description

Prunus andersonii is a deciduous shrub approaching in height, its tangling branches narrowing to spiny-tipped twigs. Serrated, lance-shaped to oval leaves occur in clusters, each leaf measuring up to long. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or pair of flowers. Each flower has usually five concave pink petals each just under 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 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.

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.