A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Amygdalus,-i (s.f.II), abl. sg. amygdalo: the almond tree; note feminine gender [> L. amygdala,-ae (s.f.I), also amygdale,-ae (s.f.I) = Gk. amygdalE; an almond; also, the almond tree].

NOTE: the classical noun for almond is a first declension feminine noun: - nucleus amygdalae, the nut of an almond tree (amygdala,-ae (s.f.I).

- oleum,-ei (s.n.II) amygdalae, Sweet Almond Oil from the kernels [of A. communis]’ “used medicinally as emollient, demulcent” (Uphof).

- oleum,-ei (s.n.II) amygdalae amarae: Oil of Bitter Almond, derived from kernels of A. communis var. amara DC., used as sedative, for cough remedies” (Uphof).

Amygdalus,-i L. (s.f.II), note the feminine ending in epithets: A. amara, A. Arabica, A. argentea, A. collina, A. davidiana, A. fasciculata.

- amygdala amara, the bitter almond.

- [Amygdalus, L. = Tournef. p. 402. Persica Tournef. p. 400.] Obs. Amygdalus vulgo dicitur, cujus Drupa sicca, ut corium. Persica autem audit, cujus Drupa mollis, ut bacca (Linn.), [Observations] the amygdalus commonly is spoken of as a corium [i.e. leathery hull] the Drupe of which is dry. However, one understands the Persica, the Drupe of which is soft, as a berry.

NOTE: a drupe, q.v., with a thin epicarp like a skin (as in the cherry, plum, and peach) or dry and almost leathery (as in the almond); “a stone-fruit; the pericarp fleshy or leathery, containing a stone with a kernel” (Jackson); see corium,-ii (s.n.II).