DESCRIPTION OF DRUPE FRUITS 



THOUGH there are some differences, many 

 of the points of description are the same for 

 drupaceous fruits as for pomaceous fruits, and 

 many of the same descriptive terms are em- 

 ployed. In order to make the whole subject 

 perfectly plain, however, it will be best to go 

 through the formula for the description of 

 drupaceous fruits point by point, and make 

 such explanations as seem necessary. 



Form is considered first. Many plums and 

 a few peaches are compressed (that is, flat- 

 tened sidewise), and this is perhaps the most 

 important matter of difference in form be- 

 tween pome fruits and stone fruits. It will 

 be noticed that many cherries are strongly 

 oblate, and that a few are heart-shaped or 

 cordate. Peaches and plums are often oval 

 Or round-oval. Occasionally the term ellip- 

 tical or ellipsoid seems more distinctive, but 

 rarely so. The simpler term is always to be 

 chosen if it is equally significant (see Fig. 17). 



Size is to be determined and described ir- 



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