persica

Persica is the Latin specific epithet used in scientific names, most notably in Prunus persica, the peach. The epithet historically relates to Persia (modern Iran) and the long-standing association of peach trade with that region, but the cultivated peach originated in China and was spread westward through trade routes in ancient times.

Prunus persica is a deciduous tree in the Rosaceae family. It typically reaches several meters in height and bears showy white to pink blossoms in spring. The fruit is a drupe with a fuzzy skin; flesh can be yellow or white depending on the cultivar and can be freestone or clingstone. The current binomial is Prunus persica, with the authority (L.) Batsch, reflecting Linnaeus’ original description as Amygdalus persica later transferred to Prunus.

Native to northwest China, the peach has been cultivated for millennia and is now grown in temperate regions worldwide, including Europe, the Americas, and parts of Africa. Commercial production emphasizes cultivars chosen for flesh color, sweetness, aroma, and postharvest shelf life. Major fruit types include yellow-fleshed and white-fleshed varieties, as well as freestone and clingstone fruit.

Peaches are consumed fresh and used in baking, canning, and desserts, and they are also dried as “dried peaches.” They provide vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, and other nutrients. Peach trees are susceptible to diseases such as peach leaf curl and brown rot, and require management of pests including aphids and peach twig borers.