RY D. MCALPIXE. 615 



While the "core" is undoubtedly represented by the five 

 carpels, there is a conflict of opinion as to the origin of the 

 " flesh " ; and, when narrowly looked into, it is seen that the 

 structure of the apple is not so simple as it looks. 



The flesh is generally considered to be the receptacle or 

 top of the flower-stalk, enlarged and succulent, and investing 

 the core. But there are some botanists who regard it as a 

 thickened calyx-tube, or even as a composite structure, con- 

 sisting of a calyx-tube, with the receptacle continued inside 

 it as a sort of lining. All these views are without any direct 

 evidence to support them, but tlie one most commonly held 

 is that the flesh of the apple is the enlarged and succulent 

 receptacle. 



The depression at the apex is known as the "eye" of the 

 apple, where the five leaves of the calyx still persist, and 

 sometimes the remains of other parts of the flower as well. 



Transversi' and Longitudinal Sections of the Apple. 



If a ripe apple is cut transversely about the middle, ten 

 green spots are observed, arranged in a circle about midway 

 between the centre and the skin (Fig. 1). These are the 

 primary fibro-vascular bundles or strands of the apple ; and 

 if the section is allowed to dry, these points stand out dis- 

 tinctly. They are evidently developed in connection with 

 the carpels, and there is one strand opposite each of the five 

 chambers containing the seeds, and another in an inter- 

 mediate position, making ten in all. 



The "core" is separated from the "flesh" by a well-marked 

 boundary line, which is attached to the top of the stalk 

 below, and passes into the " eye " or calyx-end above, so that 

 it is securely fixed (Fig. 5). Since the "core" is the seed- 

 bearing body or true fruit, that explains why the fibro- 

 vascular bundles are developed in connection with this most 

 important organ. As affording strong corroborative evidence 

 that the bundles are developed in connection with the car- 

 pels, when the abnormal number of six carpels occur (Fig. 



58 



