Profile and Plan Shape

This category uses samples viewed by profile and plan (from above) to determine the general shape. It is adapted from Bultitude and Morgan per fruitid.com, where a full description of its application can be found at https://www.fruitid.com/#identification/1. Often, a sample of multiple fruit from the same tree will fit into several of these categories. Environmental conditions, number of seeds or their dispersal in the fruit cavity, and pests can also influence the shape of a fruit and lead to lopsided or misshappen fruit. When this is a characteristic of the fruit itself, it is included in the full cultivar description.

Profile Shape

apple id shape

Profile shapes of apples. Oblate is also often used to describe a flat shape. Photo provided by fruitid.com.

Profile Shape
Cultivar Flat Flat-round Short-round-conical Round Round-Conical Conical Long-Conical Oblong-conical Oblong
Alexander       X   X X      
Dolgo          X   X X  
Duchess  X X    X          X
Fameuse       X   X X      
Hibernal  X X        X      
McIntosh    X X  X   X        
NWGreening       X  X        X
Transcendent   X    X           
Wealthy    X X  X  X  X      
Whitney        X X        
Wolf River    X X   X X  X      
Y. Trans.       X  X  X X X X

 

Plan Shape

Apple Plan Shape

Plan shape is viewed from above to describe the general shape of the apple. Regular is a near perfect circle.  Irregular describes an assymetrical sphere or even lopsided shape. Ribbed and angular apples have sharper almost square edges.

Profile Shape
Cultivar Regular Irregular

Angular or

Ribbed
Alexander    X X 
Dolgo   X   
Duchess X  X  X 
Fameuse X     
Hibernal   X  X 
McIntosh X  X   
NWGreening X X  X 
Transcendent   X  
Wealthy  X X  
Whitney  X X  X 
Wolf River   X  X
Y. Trans.   X  X