Prunus (plums, cherries; family Rosaceae) A genus of trees and shrubs whose flowers have 5 free petals, 5 sepals, about 20 stamens, and a single carpel which sits in a cup formed by the calyx tube but is free from it. The fruit is a 1-seeded drupe with a stony inner wall and a fleshy outer one. Many kinds of plums and cherries are cultivated for their fruits, and other species are grown for their flowers. There are about 400 species, most of which occur in the northern temperate zone, but some of which are native to the Andes and to the Asian tropics. See also AMYGDALUS.

Prunus Genus of plants including plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and almonds.