Tag: Apple anatomy

An Austrian study found that the core of an apple contains most of the fruit's beneficial bacteria, but this doesn't extend to the stem. The question of whether apple stems have nutrients is a common one, though the answer may surprise those looking to get the most out of their fruit. While the apple's flesh, skin, and even seeds possess known nutritional compounds, the hard, woody stem is largely devoid of them.

Did you know that the average apple contains 5 to 10 seeds? For many, the tough, seedy center of the fruit is a bit of a mystery, leading to the common question: what is the thing in the middle of an apple called? In simple terms, it's the core, but its botanical nature is surprisingly complex.

Over 7,500 cultivated varieties of apple exist globally, yet the basic structure remains the same. At the heart of every apple is its core, a tough, central part that holds the fruit's seeds, which contain a compound that can produce trace amounts of cyanide when crushed.

According to botanical definitions, the edible flesh of an apple is a false fruit, while the inner core containing the pips represents the true fruit. A pip on an apple is the small, dark seed found at its center, surrounded by a tough, fibrous core.

While most people casually refer to the main edible part of an apple as simply the “flesh” or “pulp,” the correct botanical term is mesocarp. This term, however, is not used in everyday conversation, leading to common confusion over what is the meat of an apple called.

Botanically, the apple is a 'false fruit' or 'pome,' meaning its fleshy parts don't derive solely from the ovary. The main edible part of the apple is the enlarged receptacle or thalamus, which surrounds the core and provides the sweet, juicy flesh we enjoy.