DESCRIPTION. 21 



short, open or closed. The calyx tube may be conical or urn- 

 shaped or funnel shaped and its segments may be divergent or 

 connivent or convergent, persistent or decidious. All of the 

 above characters must, of course, be studied in the ripe fruit. 

 With some fruits the calyx is marcescent, i. e., falls off as the 

 fruit reaches maturity. ' 



The calyx of the strawberry must always be taken into ac- 

 count, its chief characters being: size, form of segments, color, 

 and readiness with which it parts from the fruit. The calyx of 

 currants and gooseberries should be noted though not of great 

 importance. 



The Cavity. — The cavity may have many of the qualities 

 assigned to the basin and is like it in having permanent and 

 valuable distinguishing marks. The terms used in describing 

 the basin are applicable, for most part to the cavity, and the 

 following, while chiefly used in describing the cavity, may also 

 serve in descriptions of the basin : — 



The cavity is acute when it ends in a sharp point and accumi- 

 nate when the point is long drawn out. It is obtuse when blunt 

 or rounded at the bottom. It is lipped when a portion of the 

 flesh protrudes from or against the stem. Like the basin it 

 may be russeted or cracked and now and then it is green or 

 brown in both apples and pears to a degree and so permanently 

 that the colors become vauable distinguishing marks. Like the 

 basin the cavity is variable in depth and breadth, in manner of 

 breaking, and in surface. The cavity is relatively unimportant 

 in describing the drupe fruits but should not be neglected. 



The Stem. — The stem, or pedicel, or peduncle gives us im- 

 portant characters in some fruits. In the following fruits the 

 stem remains attached and separates from the twigs : apple, pear, 



