CHARACTERS OF FRUlTS. 361 



the segments of the calyx, and more particularly in the 

 apple, the triangular space enclosed by these parts, in 

 which the remains of the stamens and pistils are found. 

 Hence the Eye can only be displayed by making a verti- 

 cal section of the fruit. There are but a limited number 

 of expressions used in its description ; thus the eye is said 

 to be large, small, long or short, and it may be open or 

 closed. The segments of the calyx may be converging or 

 reflexed, persistent or obsolete, according to their condition 

 in the ripe fruit, and these several characters are quite 

 reliable; but the simple fact that the eye is open or 

 closed, may depend upon the accidental breaking away 

 of the segments of the calyx, and is of little value as a 



sign. 



> 



The next character to be considered is the attachment 

 of the stem, which, in some fruits, is so depressed as to 



constitute what is called 

 the CAVITY. In the ap- 

 ple this portion has 

 many variations that are 

 quite characteristic of 

 Fig. 47. DEEP, STEM LONG. certain varieties of fruit. 



In form the cavity may be either deep, fig. 47, or shallow ; 

 regular or irregular; wide, fig. 48 ; or narrow, and acute, 



Fig. 48. WIDE, STEM STOUT. Fig. 49. W4LVY, STEM CLUBBED. 



wavy, fig. 49 ; and uneven, folded, and even lipped, fig. 

 50 ; as when a portion of the flesh protrudes against the 



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