THE APPLE. 



23 



3. The Carpels. — These make up what is popular!)' called the core. 

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

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

 branous lining, will l)e either round, ovate, ubuvaic, or dlipUcal. To 



ti. Stamens b.i^.'il. 



Tube coiucal. 



Core clasping. 

 h. Cells, .h.ivate. 



prevent error in distinguishing between ovate and ol)ovate tlic ob- 

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

 stem ijointing outwards. 



In relation to the axis of the apple, they are eitlier nxilc or nhaxile. 

 Wlien the walls extend to the axis, and these characters will be liest 

 seen by making a transverse section of the fruit, tlie cdls ai-e sym- 

 metrical, and are then said to be axile, whether tlie core is o])en or 

 closed. When tliey are distant from the axis, and tlie cdls are unsym- 

 metrical, they are called ahaiile. Further, the walls may Ijc entire, 

 or slit by transverse fissures. 



4. The Sepals or Eye. — The sepals or segments of the original cal3'.x 

 of the flowers \\-ere uniformly expanded and spreading. After the 

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



* In the various varieties of the pure Siberian crab, Pyrus baccata, the segmenls are 

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



