Smooth stone peach facts for kids

Prunus mira, also known as the smooth stone peach, smooth-pit peach, or Tibetan peach, is a special type of peach tree. People in its native areas sometimes call it behmi, behimi, or tirul. This tree grows naturally in the mountains of the Himalayas and on the Tibetan plateau. You can usually find it at very high places, often between 2,600 and 3,000 meters above sea level. Sometimes it grows even higher, up to 4,000 meters, or a bit lower, around 2,000 meters.

What Does the Smooth Stone Peach Look Like?

The Prunus mira tree can grow quite tall, reaching about 8 to 12 meters (26 to 39 feet). Its main trunk can be around 16 centimeters (6 inches) wide.

Its leaves are shaped like a spearhead, which means they are longer than they are wide and pointed at both ends. They are usually 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long and 1.2 to 4 centimeters (0.5 to 1.6 inches) wide.

When the tree blooms, it has pretty pinkish-white flowers. The fruit is shaped like an oval, about 2 by 3 centimeters (0.8 by 1.2 inches) in size. Inside, the fruit has white flesh. One interesting thing about this peach is its pit, or stone. Unlike many other peaches, the stone inside the Prunus mira fruit is very smooth.

How People Use the Smooth Stone Peach

People in the areas where Prunus mira grows often plant these trees. They use different parts of the tree for many things.

• Fruit: The fruit is eaten, and it is often pickled to preserve it.
• Seeds: The seeds inside the smooth stone are used as a replacement for almonds.
• Oil: Oil is pressed from the seeds. This oil is used for cooking food and also as a hair oil.
• Rootstocks: The roots of the Prunus mira tree are sometimes used as a base for growing other trees. For example, they can be used for almond trees or to make peach trees grow smaller (dwarfing). These roots are also strong against a plant disease called powdery mildew, which is a type of fungus that can harm plants.