The peach, Prunus persica, is a deciduous tree, native to China and South Asia, where it was first cultivated. It bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach. The species name persica refers to its widespread cultivation in Persia, whence it was transplanted to Europe. It belongs to the genus Prunus which includes the cherry and plum, in the family Rosaceae. The peach is classified with the almond in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated seed shell.
Peaches and nectarines are closely related, even though they are regarded commercially as different fruits. Nectarines belong to the same species as peaches. Nectarines have smooth skin, while peaches have fuzzy skin; genetic studies suggest nectarines are produced due to a recessive allele, whereas peaches are produced from dominant allele for fuzzy skin.
China is the world's largest producer of peaches and nectarines.
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Famous quotes containing the word peach:
“Nature, doubtless, has some compelling cause
To glut the carriers of her epidemics
Nor did the peach complain.”
—Robert Graves (18951985)
“The dog-wood breaks white
The pear-tree has caught
The apple is a red blaze
The peach has already withered its own leaves
The wild plum-tree is alight.”
—Hilda Doolittle (18861961)
“I askèd a thief to steal me a peach
He turned up his eyes
I askd a lithe lady to lie her down
Holy & meek she cries
As soon as I went
An angel came.
He winkd at the thief
And smild at the dame
And without one word said
Had a peach from the tree
And still as a maid
Enjoyd the lady.”
—William Blake (17571827)