Apricot

An apricot is a drupe fruit. It is closely related to the plum.

Apricot
Apricot and its cross-section
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Prunus
Subgenus:	Prunus subg. Prunus
Section:	Prunus sect. Armeniaca (Scop.) Koch

Two apricots, with a branch of apricots in the background

Description

The apricot comes from a small to medium-sized tree, 8 to 12 metres (26 to 39 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 40 centimetres in diameter with spreading, dense canopy; leaves are shaped somewhat like a heart, with pointed tips, about 8 centimetres (3 inches) wide.

Apricots contain many nutrients but is highest in vitamin C and potassium. A single apricot contains approximately 3.5 grams of vitamin C and 91 grams of potassium.

• Flowers: Flowers are white to pinkish in color.
• Fruit: The fruit has only one seed; the color runs from yellow to orange and may have a red cast; the surface of the fruit is smooth and nearly hairless.

Related pages

• List of fruits

Other websites

• www.apricotseeds.org Archived 2006-01-28 at the Wayback Machine – includes information on medicinal uses of apricot seeds
• Apricot Kernel products – About Apricot Kernel
• Scintro fruit book – All about fruits
• Apricot Nutrition Facts