THE APPLE. 



23 



3. The Carpels. These make up what is popularly called the core. 

 They are generally five, occasionally they are four, or even three, but 

 this is very rare. If split down the middle its walls, or tough mem- 

 branous lining, will be either round, ovate, obovate, or elliptical. To 



a. Stamens basal. 

 Tube conical. 

 Core clasping. 



b. Cells obovate. 



Core closed. 

 Cells axile. 



prevent error in distinguishing between ovate and obovate the ob- 

 server should hold the apple with the calyx towards him, and the 

 stem pointing outwards. 



In relation to the axis of the apple, they are either axile or abaxile. 

 When the walls extend to the axis, and these characters will be best 

 seen by making a transverse section of the fruit, the cells are sym- 

 metrical, and are then said to be axile, whether the core is open or 

 closed. When they arc distant from the axis, and the cells are unsym- 

 metrical, they are called abaxile. Further, the walls may be entire; 

 or slit by transverse fissures. 



4. The Sepals or Eye. The sepals or segments of the original calyx 

 of the flowers were uniformly expanded and spreading. After the 

 petals of the flower drop, and fruit develops, the segments persist * 



* In the various varieties of the pure Siberian crab, Pyrua baccata, the segments are 

 deciduous, i.e., fall off as the fruit develops. 



