Template:POTD/2008-12-11

Picture of the day

A six-image montage showing the development of a typical drupe, the nectarine (Prunus persica) over a 7½ month period:

1. Bud formation (early winter)
2. Leaves start to develop (early spring)
3. Flowers are pollinated (early spring)
4. After successful pollination, incipient fruit forms (mid-spring)
5. Fruit is well developed and continues to grow (late spring)
6. Fruit fully ripens (midsummer)

Photo credit: John O'Neill