from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Prunus \Pru"nus\, n. [L., a plum tree.] (Bot.)
A genus of trees with perigynous rosaceous flowers, and a
single two-ovuled carpel which usually becomes a drupe in
ripening.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Originally, this genus was limited to the plums, then,
by Linn[ae]us, was made to include the cherries and the
apricot. Later botanists separated these into several
genera, as {Prunus}, {Cerasus}, and {Armeniaca}, but
now, by Bentham and Hooker, the plums, cherries, cherry
laurels, peach, almond, and nectarine are all placed in
{Prunus}.
[1913 Webster] Prurience