Herodian of Alexandria says, that almonds derive the name of ἀμύγδαλαι, because beneath their green bark they have many ἀμυχαὶ, or lacerations.
Philemon says somewhere or other—
You, like an ass, come to the husks of the dessert;
and Nicander, in the second book of his Georgics, says—
Beech-trees, the ornament of Pan.
We also find the word ἀμύγδαλον in the neuter gender. Diphilus says—
"Sweetmeats, myrtle-berries, cheese-cakes, almonds,"
using the neuter ἀμύγδαλα.
40. Now with respect to the pronunciation and accent of the word ἀμυγδάλη, Pamphilus thinks that there ought to be a grave accent when it means the fruit, as it is in the case of ἀμύγδαλον. But he wants to circumflex the word when it means the tree, thus, ἀμυγδαλῆ like ῥοδῆ. And Archilochus says—
The lovely flower of the rose-tree (ῥοδῆς).