The '''almond''' ('''''Prunus amygdalus''''', [[Synonym (taxonomy)#Botany|syn.]] ''Prunus dulcis'', ''Amygdalus communis'', ''Amygdalus dulcis''), is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. "Almond" is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus ''[[Prunus]]'', it is classified with the [[peach]] in the subgenus ''Amygdalus'', distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated shell ([[endocarp]]) surrounding the seed.
The fruit of the almond is a [[drupe]], consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the seed (which is not a [[nut (fruit)|true nut]]) inside. Shelling almonds refers to removing the shell to reveal the [[seed]]. Almonds are sold '''shelled''' (i.e., after the shells are removed), or '''unshelled''' (i.e., with the shells still attached). '''[[Blanching (cooking)|Blanched]]''' almonds are shelled almonds that have been treated with hot water to soften the [[seedcoat]], which is then removed to reveal the white [[embryo]].
