What Is That Thing Stuck To My Orange/Avocado?
December 9, 2009 8:19 AM Subscribe
What do you call the dried stem-stump stuck to an orange/lemon/avocado?
A coworker called it a "pip" but I said that term referred to the seeds. Wikipedia says that "pip" means any small, countable object and gives the spots on dice as an example. So theoretically, I guess "pip" works. But I think there must be an official name and there's clearly already variation in popular terminology1.
I'm looking for what you personally call them (and maybe what region you are in?) and what The Botanical Term is.
1Actually, I don't call them anything other than "dammit get off there so I can cut through the fruit".
A coworker called it a "pip" but I said that term referred to the seeds. Wikipedia says that "pip" means any small, countable object and gives the spots on dice as an example. So theoretically, I guess "pip" works. But I think there must be an official name and there's clearly already variation in popular terminology1.
I'm looking for what you personally call them (and maybe what region you are in?) and what The Botanical Term is.
1Actually, I don't call them anything other than "dammit get off there so I can cut through the fruit".
I'd just call it the stem as well. Pip is definitely the seed(s).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:27 AM on December 9, 2009
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:27 AM on December 9, 2009
Response by poster: Just realized that pickers/packers may also have an industry term.
The reason I suspect there's a botanical name is that it has a special function or at least special behavior. It doesn't stick with the stem, it sticks with the fruit.
posted by DU at 8:32 AM on December 9, 2009
The reason I suspect there's a botanical name is that it has a special function or at least special behavior. It doesn't stick with the stem, it sticks with the fruit.
posted by DU at 8:32 AM on December 9, 2009
Response by poster: Ah yes, I think "pedicel" must be it. See figure 12c in this 1942 paper on the anatomy of avocados.
posted by DU at 8:51 AM on December 9, 2009
posted by DU at 8:51 AM on December 9, 2009
I think of it as the fruit's bellybutton. But if I'm talking out loud, I usually call it the "stem bit."
posted by nickmark at 9:57 AM on December 9, 2009
posted by nickmark at 9:57 AM on December 9, 2009
Pip is definitely not correct. Pedicel is in some cases* where the connection is to a single ovary (fruit), but in other cases what we call the fruit is actually several ovaries attached to a peduncle. Axil or axillary refers to the connection between leaf stems ("petioles") and branches. Petioles and peduncles or pedicels have different functions and structures. Really, you can't go wrong with plain old "stem". :-)
*The stem of a fig fruit is correctly called a "peduncle", and in fact, the whole "fruit" (it is not really a true fruit, it is a synconia, which is a type of flower cluster) is made up of modified peduncular tissue. Inside the fig are male and female flowers. All the tiny flowers are attached to the inside of the peduncle with pedicels. so when a "fruit" consists of multiple flowers with multiple ovaries ( an inflorescence), the proper term for the stem is peduncle. So strawberries, raspberries and other compound fruit have peduncles. Apples, pears, and quince have peduncles (they have a multi-part ovary).
posted by oneirodynia at 11:59 AM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
*The stem of a fig fruit is correctly called a "peduncle", and in fact, the whole "fruit" (it is not really a true fruit, it is a synconia, which is a type of flower cluster) is made up of modified peduncular tissue. Inside the fig are male and female flowers. All the tiny flowers are attached to the inside of the peduncle with pedicels. so when a "fruit" consists of multiple flowers with multiple ovaries ( an inflorescence), the proper term for the stem is peduncle. So strawberries, raspberries and other compound fruit have peduncles. Apples, pears, and quince have peduncles (they have a multi-part ovary).
posted by oneirodynia at 11:59 AM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: An avocado is pretty clearly a single ovary, since there's only one seed. But what about oranges?
posted by DU at 5:16 PM on December 9, 2009
posted by DU at 5:16 PM on December 9, 2009
blossom end
That's the other end, the part that was the flower.
posted by Pollomacho at 7:37 PM on December 9, 2009
That's the other end, the part that was the flower.
posted by Pollomacho at 7:37 PM on December 9, 2009
An avocado is pretty clearly a single ovary, since there's only one seed. But what about oranges?
I would call it a peduncle. You find that there's no 100% clear consensus among botanists though; there are academic papers that use either term for nearly all fruits, though most of the time peduncle is used. It's never entirely clear cut because while peduncle is used for solitary flowers and pedicel for inflorescences, plants can have a habit of producing flowers/fruit in both configurations. You'll see in botanical descriptions "flowers solitary or in clusters (racemes, bundles, &c.)" So the use of the term in that case depends on the botanist.
If the inflorescence clearly has pedicels attaching the flowers to a peduncle (as in avocado or mango), people will tend to use pedicel. If a single stem supports multiple flowers that make up a single fruit (fig, blackberry, strawberry) peduncle is used.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:59 PM on December 10, 2009
I would call it a peduncle. You find that there's no 100% clear consensus among botanists though; there are academic papers that use either term for nearly all fruits, though most of the time peduncle is used. It's never entirely clear cut because while peduncle is used for solitary flowers and pedicel for inflorescences, plants can have a habit of producing flowers/fruit in both configurations. You'll see in botanical descriptions "flowers solitary or in clusters (racemes, bundles, &c.)" So the use of the term in that case depends on the botanist.
If the inflorescence clearly has pedicels attaching the flowers to a peduncle (as in avocado or mango), people will tend to use pedicel. If a single stem supports multiple flowers that make up a single fruit (fig, blackberry, strawberry) peduncle is used.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:59 PM on December 10, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by foodgeek at 8:21 AM on December 9, 2009