PISUM SATIVUM 



341 



self-fecundation, even before the flower-bud opens." In the 

 process of early self-pollination, the anthers dehisce prior to the 

 opening of the flower bud, and the conical point of the keel is 

 filled with pollen as the anthers are withdrawn into its base, 

 so that prior to anthesis the stigma is already covered with 

 pollen. 



The fruit is a legume or pod which opens along both abaxial 

 and adaxial sutures, and the pericarp differs in the several varieties, 



Fig. 173. /!, habit of leaves and inflorescence; B, single flower ; C, mature fruit ; D, parts 

 of corolla showing standard, keel, and wing; E, stamens, showing position of free stamen; 

 f , flower with corolla removed ; G, young carpel ; H, floral diagram. 



especially with respect to the character of the endocarp or inner 

 surface of the ovary wall. In the edible-podded or sugar pea, 

 the endocarp remains soft and succulent, and the ripe pods do not 

 dehisce, while in the shelling peas, it becomes hard and dry and 

 the pod splits open at maturity. Other differences with respect 

 to the fruit are variations in the thickness of the ovary wall and 

 in the shape and size of the pod, which may be curved or straight 

 with a blunt or acute apex. The pods of some of the larger vari- 

 eties attain a length of 18 cm. and a width of i.5 cm. 



