Yes, the apple fruit, specifically the part we eat, is developed from the ovary of the apple flower. However, it's more accurate to say that an apple is a pome, which means it's a fleshy fruit where both the ripened ovary and the surrounding tissue (the receptacle) become fleshy and edible.
Here's a breakdown:
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The Ovary's Role: The ovary is the part of the flower that contains the ovules (which, when fertilized, become seeds). After fertilization, the ovary begins to swell and develop into what we recognize as the fruit.
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Pome Fruits: Apples, pears, and quinces are all pome fruits. What distinguishes them is that a significant portion of the edible flesh comes from the floral tube or receptacle, the part of the flower that surrounds the ovary.
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What You're Eating: When you eat an apple, you're primarily consuming the fleshy receptacle tissue. The core, which contains the seeds, is the actual developed ovary.
In summary, while technically derived from the ovary, an apple's development involves more than just the ovary itself. The receptacle contributes significantly to the fruit's structure and edibility, making it a pome.
