pome is the apple . Other examples of plants that produce fruit classified as a pome are cotoneaster , hawthorn , loquat , medlar , pear , pyracantha , toyon , quince , [2] rowan , and whitebeam .) <--Wikipedia. Here is one Ph.Ds discussion. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004...erts#section-0 Here is the analysis page