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Useful Temperate Plants

Prunus mongolica

Maxim.

Rosaceae


The taxonomic history of Prunus is long and complicated, in part due to the economic value of its fruit crops and also the ease with which some species hybridize. Here, Prunus is circumscribed in its broad sense based on the argument that when viewed on a worldwide scale, the morphologic discontinuities among the segregate genera diminish and they overlap with one another. Included here are species that have at times been placed in the genera Amygdalus, Armeniaca, Cerasus, Laurocerasus, Padus, and Persica.
At the species level, Prunus has been the object of the usual combining and splitting common among taxonomists with different philosophies and opinions. In particular, over-reliance on the indument of various vegetative and floral parts has led to the naming of numerous species and infraspecific taxa. Similarly, too much has been made of fruit colour and palatability in naming taxa of Prunus. It is very likely that, as molecular and genetic data are analyzed and, more importantly, correlated with morphological data, circumscriptions will be redrawn and the number of Prunus species will be reduced[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].

+ Synonyms

Amygdalus mongolica (Maxim.) Ricker

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Prunus mongolica is a much-branched, deciduous shrub growing 100 - 200cm tall[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The plant has potential for use in land restoration schemes within its native habitat in order to prevent and reverse desertification[
1618
Title
Endemic shrubs in temperate arid and semiarid regions of northern China and their potentials for rangeland restorati
Publication
AoB Plants June 2015
Author
Jianmin Chu; Hongxiao Yang; Qi Lu & Xiaoyan Zhang
Website
https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plv063
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
An open access article, downloaded from http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - southern Mongolia, northern China (Gansu, Nei Monggol, Ningxia)

Habitat

Hill lands in desert or desert grasslands, stony slopes, dry river beds; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,400 metres[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Shrub
Height1.50 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prunus mongolica occurs in arid and semi-arid habitats where mean annual rainfall can be 280mm or less. Summers are very hot, with temperatures up to 40°c, whilst winters are very cold, down to -30°c[
1617
Title
Leaf-surface wax of desert plants as a potential lubricant additive
Publication
Friction
Author
Yanqiu Xia; Xiaochun Xu; Xin Feng & Guoxiong Chen
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-015-0081-7
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
2223-7690
Description
 
,
1618
Title
Endemic shrubs in temperate arid and semiarid regions of northern China and their potentials for rangeland restorati
Publication
AoB Plants June 2015
Author
Jianmin Chu; Hongxiao Yang; Qi Lu & Xiaoyan Zhang
Website
https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plv063
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
An open access article, downloaded from http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/
].
Requires a sunny postion in a very freely draining soil[
1618
Title
Endemic shrubs in temperate arid and semiarid regions of northern China and their potentials for rangeland restorati
Publication
AoB Plants June 2015
Author
Jianmin Chu; Hongxiao Yang; Qi Lu & Xiaoyan Zhang
Website
https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plv063
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
An open access article, downloaded from http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, all members of the genus contain amygdalin and prunasin, substances which break down in water to form hydrocyanic acid (cyanide or prussic acid). In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

Being very tolerant of arid climates and poor soils, the plant has been recommended for use in land reclamation projects within its native range in order to halt and reverse desertification of the region caused by overgrazing[
1618
Title
Endemic shrubs in temperate arid and semiarid regions of northern China and their potentials for rangeland restorati
Publication
AoB Plants June 2015
Author
Jianmin Chu; Hongxiao Yang; Qi Lu & Xiaoyan Zhang
Website
https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plv063
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
An open access article, downloaded from http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Protect the seed from mice etc. The seed can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate[
113
Title
The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
Publication
 
Author
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W.
Publisher
Athens Ga. Varsity Press
Year
1987
ISBN
0942375009
Description
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, mid summer in a frame[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Softwood cuttings from strongly growing plants in spring to early summer in a frame[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Layering in spring.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Prunus+mongolica>

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