Almonds (Prunus communis var dulcis) were a traditional crop in Provence but in many areas only old and dying trees remain. Now new orchards, such as

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Almonds (Prunus communis var dulcis) were a traditional crop in Provence but in many areas only old and dying trees remain. Now new orchards, such as this with over 15000 trees, on the Valensole plateau produce a crop for sweet almond oil production and high quality almond products. The fruit of the almond is a drupe not a true nut. The outer hull, the exocarp, is covered a leathery coat covered in fine hair which splits open in autumn. Inside, a hard shell, the endocarp, encloses an edible seed. Photographed in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France.

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Size: 6720px × 4480px
Photo credit: © MARTYN F. CHILLMAID/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: agriculture, almond, alpes-de-haute-provence, arboriculture, communis, crop, drupe, dulcis, edible, farming, ferragnes, france, french, lauranne, orchard, plateau, produce, provence, prunus, summer, sweet, traditional, trees, valensole, var, varieties