<p>Native to Central Asia, and long cultivated in China, the apricot tree  (Rosaceae family) spread along the ancient caravan routes as far as the  Middle East. The Romans brought it to Armenia in the 1st century BC,  hence its Latin name Prunus Armeniaca. The apricot tree flourishes in  mild climates. Its velvet-skinned fruit contains a smooth apricot pit,  inside which is the kernel. In some varieties, these kernels can be  sweet, but they are often bitter and toxic (cyanhydric acid).</p>