THE FRUIT 



63 



stitute the core of pomes are modified leaves each folded and 

 united at their edges to form a closed cell. In shape the carpels 

 are round, ohlong, cordate, ohcordate, ovate, ohovate, or 

 elongated. If the tip of the carpel is indented, it is emarginute, 

 if long and pointed, miicronate (Figs. 33-37). 



In the cores of most 

 pomes there is an open 

 region called the core- 

 cavity or axial sac. This 

 is a reliable help in iden- 

 tifying pears and is often 

 useful as a recognition 

 mark in apples. When 

 the carpels extend quite 

 to the axis of the fruit 

 they are said to be axile; 

 when distant from the 

 axis, they are ahaxile 

 (Fig. 37). There is, of 

 course, a core-cavity only 

 when the carpels are 

 abaxile, which, however, 

 is usually the case. In 



some pomes there are many fine hairs in the core-cavity and it is 

 said to be tufted. Sometimes the carpels are lined on the inner 

 surface with a white spongy substance, in which the seed are 

 imbedded, in which case the carpels are tufted, as in Tompkins 

 King. 



The limits of the core are marked by a line, usually very dis- 

 tinct in apples and quinces, which is called the core-line. The 

 size and shape of the region inclosed by the core-line are usually 

 distinctive; while the direction which the line takes from the 

 intruded woody stems is a fine mark of distinction. The core- 

 line may proceed at a right angle from the stem; may incline 

 upward or downward. When the core-line joins the calyx- 

 tube along the side it is clasping; when in a lengthwise section 

 the core-lines come together at the base of the calyx-tube they 

 are meeting. In some species of crab-apples the core separates 

 from the flesh along the core-line so that it may be taken out 



Fig. 34. Cross-section of an apple, a. 

 vascular bundle ; b. core-line ; c. carpel ; 

 d. seeds ; e. axial-sac. 



