Цвіт мигдалю

The flowers are 3 to 5 cm across, with five petals, and are produced singly or in pairs. They appear before the leaves in early spring. Almond trees thrive in Mediterranean climates with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The fruit matures in the autumn, 7 to 8 months after flowering.

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Bitter almond and its oil

The seeds of Prunus amygdalus var. dulcis are predominantly sweet, but some individual trees produce seeds that are somewhat more bitter. The fruits from Prunus amygdalus var. amara are always bitter. The bitter almond contains the enzyme emulsin, which in the presence of water acts on the two soluble glucosides amygdalin and prunasin, yielding glucose, cyanide and the essential oil of bitter almonds. That essential oil is nearly pure benzaldehyde. Bitter almonds may yield 4 to 9 milligrams of hydrogen cyanide per almond. Bitter almond oil, once freed of hydrogen cyanide, has benzaldehyde as its main component and an intense, almond-like, cherry aroma.

Aroma chemicals

Benzaldehyde, with the formula C₇H₆O and CAS number 100-52-7, is an organic compound consisting of a benzene ring with a formyl substituent. Benzaldehyde is a colorless liquid whose odor resembles bitter almonds and cherry. Piperonal, also known as heliotropin (CAS number 120-57-0), is an organic compound that is commonly found in fragrances and flavors. Its molecule is structurally related to other aromatic aldehydes such as benzaldehyde and vanillin. The odor of piperonal is floral and is often compared with vanillin or cherry. Heliotropin was named after the 'cherry pie' notes found in the heliotrope flower's fragrance, even though the chemical is not present in the flower's true aroma. 4-Anisaldehyde (CAS number 123-11-5) is an organic compound with the formula CH₃OC₆H₄CHO. Its molecule consists of a benzene ring with a formyl and a methoxy group. The ionones, named from the Greek ion for violet, are a series of closely related chemical substances. They are derived from the degradation of carotenoids.