Pollen of Bitterness. Prunus tenella, Dwarf Russian Almond, and Comma Hoverfly, Eupeodes sp., Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Although Prunus tenella, Dwarf Russian Almond, was first scientifically described and renamed from Amygdalus nana in 1801 by August Johann Georg Karl Batsch (1761-1802), it was already well-known in Europe. I don't know from when, but James Sutherland in 1683 was growing it in England; and fine gardener Abraham Munting (1626-1683) of Groningen gave an interesting description in his great work on plants.
Our Almond is notorious for being very bitter. Munting says that bitterness may be mitigated if its roots are watered with kamerloog or cold menschen-water, which is to say: urine.
Regarding the English name Dwarf Russian Almond - you know me - I had to look for some references to Russia. So I found the travel journals of the German zoologist and botanist Peter Simon Pallas (1741-1811). He came into the service in St Petersburg of Catherine II from 1767 onwards. Soon he was on his way to Eastern parts as far as Lake Baikal. Several times in his journal he mentions our Nana, the first time in the region of Bobovnik (Slovenia). Here this Plum is called Calmytskié-orékhi (Kalmuk nut). He writes engagingly that oil pressed from the bitter fruits is good in salads and that a liquor can also be distilled from them. If the gardeners of the Hortus allow me, I might taste a 'prune' when it comes into season.
In any case, here a Comma Hoverfly, Eupeodes sp., has found its way to the pollen of the Prunus flowers. I wonder whether it's bitter.
Pollen of Bitterness. Prunus tenella, Dwarf Russian Almond, and Comma Hoverfly, Eupeodes sp., Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Although Prunus tenella, Dwarf Russian Almond, was first scientifically described and renamed from Amygdalus nana in 1801 by August Johann Georg Karl Batsch (1761-1802), it was already well-known in Europe. I don't know from when, but James Sutherland in 1683 was growing it in England; and fine gardener Abraham Munting (1626-1683) of Groningen gave an interesting description in his great work on plants.
Our Almond is notorious for being very bitter. Munting says that bitterness may be mitigated if its roots are watered with kamerloog or cold menschen-water, which is to say: urine.
Regarding the English name Dwarf Russian Almond - you know me - I had to look for some references to Russia. So I found the travel journals of the German zoologist and botanist Peter Simon Pallas (1741-1811). He came into the service in St Petersburg of Catherine II from 1767 onwards. Soon he was on his way to Eastern parts as far as Lake Baikal. Several times in his journal he mentions our Nana, the first time in the region of Bobovnik (Slovenia). Here this Plum is called Calmytskié-orékhi (Kalmuk nut). He writes engagingly that oil pressed from the bitter fruits is good in salads and that a liquor can also be distilled from them. If the gardeners of the Hortus allow me, I might taste a 'prune' when it comes into season.
In any case, here a Comma Hoverfly, Eupeodes sp., has found its way to the pollen of the Prunus flowers. I wonder whether it's bitter.