Apricot

An apricot is a fruit or the tree that bears the fruit of several species in the genus Prunus (stone fruits). Usually, an apricot tree is from the species P. armeniaca, but the species P. brigantina, P. mandshurica, P. mume, and P. sibirica are closely related, have similar fruit, and are also called apricots.

Description

The apricot is a small tree, 8–12 m (26–39 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm (16 in) in diameter and a dense, spreading canopy. The leaves are ovate, 5–9 cm (2.0–3.5 in) long and 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) wide, with a rounded base, a pointed tip and a finely serrated margin. The flowers are 2–4.5 cm (0.8–1.8 in) in diameter, with five white to pinkish petals; they are produced singly or in pairs in early spring before the leaves. The fruit is a drupe similar to a small peach, 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1.0 in) diameter (larger in some modern cultivars), from yellow to orange, often tinged red on the side most exposed to the sun; its surface can be smooth (botanically described as: glabrous) or velvety with very short hairs (botanically: pubescent). The flesh is usually firm and not very juicy. Its taste can range from sweet to tart. The single seed is enclosed in a hard, stony shell, often called a "stone", with a grainy, smooth texture except for three ridges running down one side.

Apricot (disambiguation)

Apricot is a fruit from several tree species in family Rosaceae, and the trees that bear them.

Apricot may also refer to:

Apricot (color)

Apricot is a light yellowish-orangish color that is similar to the color of apricots. However, it is somewhat paler than actual apricots.

Etymology

The etymology of the color apricot (and the fruit): the word comes from the Arabic Al-birquq (itself from Greek berikokon, ultimately from Latin praecoquum). Apricot has been in use as a color name since 1851.

Variations of apricot

Light apricot

Displayed at right is the light tone of apricot called apricot since 1958 in Crayola crayons.

Mellow apricot

Displayed at right the color mellow apricot.

This is one of the colors on the British Standards 5252 color list. This color is #06E50 on the 5252 color list. The 5252 color list is for colors used in color coordination and in building construction. The British Standard color lists were first formulated in 1930 and reached their present form in 1955.

Apricot in human culture