Prunus mandshurica

Prunus mandshurica, also called Manchurian apricot and scout apricot,^{[citation needed]} is a tree in the genus Prunus.

Manchurian apricot
Blossoms with bee
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
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
Species:	P. mandshurica
Binomial name
Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne
Synonyms[2]
Armeniaca mandshurica (Maxim.) Skvortsov Prunus armeniaca var. mandshurica Maxim.

It was first described by Karl Maximovich in 1883 as a variety of the Siberian apricot (Tibetan apricot) Prunus armeniaca.^[3] It is resistant to cold and is native to northeast China, Korea, and Manchuria. It is highly susceptible to plum pox potyvirus.^[4]

Description

Prunus mandshurica is a deciduous, broad-leaved tree, which grows to a height of about 10 m (33 ft). The inner bark is red and the outer bark is black. The leaves are oval, with an elongated tip (acuminate or caudate), some hairs, and serrated edges. The tree grows best in loam soils. Its petioles are 3 cm (1.2 in). The sepals and petals are oval, while the length of the stamens is similar to that of the stigma, which is cup-shaped. Flowers appear in spring and are white or pale pink.^[5] Fruits appear in late summer and are yellow with some red. In the autumn, the leaves turn golden orange.^[6][7][8][9]

Uses

Seed oil from P. mandshurica has been studied as a source of biodiesel. The oil content of Prunus sibirica seeds is lower but also has potential as a source of biodiesel. It has been used in cosmetics, soaps, and cold creams, and is also a source of the antimicrobial phloretin. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe that the dried kernels are useful for treating asthma and constipation.^{[7][10][11][12][13][14]}

Cultivars

Cultivars include the 'Mandan', hybrids 'Moongold' and 'Sungold',^[7] and var. glabra.^[3]

Nomenclature

In China, it is known as the northeastern apricot (Chinese: 东北杏) or Liaoning apricot (Chinese: 辽杏)–; both names describe the geographical position of Manchuria. In Korean, it is known as the gaesalgu tree (개살구나무).