Il] DRUPE AND BERRY 25 



by hard coats or investments calculated to protect them 

 against the action of the gastric juices. 



The simplest type is the Drupe, or Stone-fruit, as 

 found in the Cherry (Fig. 22), Plum, Peach, &c., where it 

 arises from a single carpel, the inner wall (endocarp) of 

 which forms the "stone," around the seed. Many fruits, 

 however, are termed drupaceous which arise from syn- 

 carpous ovaries, the bony or stony endocarp being the prin- 

 cipal criterion e.g. Spondias, Celtis, Olive, and Coffee, &c., 

 where there are often two or more seeds, and the Walnut 

 (Fig. 23), Almond, &c., where the mesocarp is not really 

 fleshy but rather spongy or leathery, while in the Coco- 

 nut the mesocarp is fibrous. The above examples show 

 clearly that the types of fruits are not to be taken as 

 strictly definable morphological types, but as more or less 

 indications of resemblances to an arbitrarily selected type 

 in each case. In the Bramble (Fig. 24), Raspberry, Quassia, 

 &c. we have an aeterio of Drupels each succulent pip 

 being a true drupe. The mulberry (Fig. 2) looks very 

 similar, but in this case each succulent pip (Drupel) is 

 the product of a separate flower, the fleshy part being 

 mainly the swollen perianth. 



The Berry is another extremely common type of fruit, 

 and comprises all fruits in which the endocarp as well as 

 the mesocarp is succulent, e.g. Barberry, Arum, Grape, 

 Currant, Gooseberry, Cranberry, Tomato, Melon, Cucumber, 

 Banana, &c. The Latin name being Bacca, berry-like 

 fruits are termed Baccate, and some distinctions must be 

 noticed between some of the above examples. 



Thus, the Barberry, Grape and Tomato come from 

 a superior ovary, whereas the Currant, Gooseberry, &c. 

 are inferior. Again the Barberry and Arum are mono- 

 carpous, but the others are syncarpous. Berries as a rule 

 contain several seeds, but in the Date there is only one ; 



