THE FLOWER AND FRUIT 



105 



of dehiscence correspond to the points of union or non-divergence 

 of the adjacent carpels. 



The silique is characteristic of the Cruciferae and consists of two 

 carpels which form a bilocular ovary with a longitudinal septum. 

 In most genera, the two valves of the fruit separate longitudinally; 

 but in a few instances (radish) the silique is indehiscent. Where 

 the fruit is short it is sometimes called a silicle. 



Fleshy Fruits. — The principal fleshy fruits are the berry and the 

 pfo. The berry develops from the ovary of a hypogynous flower; 

 and produces a fleshy pericarp as it matures. In most cases, the 



Fig. 40. Fruit types: A, the berry, a bilocular fruit of the tomato; B, pepo, cucumber; 

 C, pome, the apple in transection; D, the same in longisection. (B and C drawn by Kraus.) 



berry is derived from two or more carpels (tomato); but it may 

 develop from a single carpel (Podophyllum, May apple). (Fig. 

 40, A.') The citrus fruit is also a berry of a specialized type, some- 

 times called a hesperidium, in which the dorsal walls of the carpels 

 develop into a thick rind and the central portion of the fruit in- 

 volves the axis as well as the carpels. 



In the pepo, or inferior berry, the fruit develops from an epigynous 

 flower in which the tissue of the non-diverged receptacle surrounds 

 the pericarp and forms an outer rind which in squashes and pump- 

 kins may be very hard. The edible portion consists of the car- 

 pellary walls, often mainly the placentae; and the enveloping 

 receptacle. (Fig. 40, B.) 



