CAPSULE. 03 



the oak, chestnut, some of the grasses, &c., it is chiefly or entirely deposited in the 

 seed. 



FIG. 16. — Modes of dehiscence ; 1, Locu.icidal ; 2, Seplicidal ; 3, Seplifragal. The straight 

 lines represent the dissepiments. 



115. Dehiscence. When the pericarp has arrived at maturity, 

 it either remains permanently closed (indehiscent) as the acorn, 

 or it separates into parts forming openings. These parts are 

 called valves, and these openings, the dehiscence. Regular de- 

 hiscence is always vertical, and is called, 



1. Loculicidal {loculus, a cell, cesdo, to cut), when it takes 

 place by the opening of the dorsal suture of each carpel directly 

 into the cell. Ex. lily. 



2. Septicidal {septum, a wall, and ccedo), when it takes place 

 through the dissepiments (which are doubled, ^ 85, c). Ex. 

 mallows. 



3. Scptifragal {septum, and frango, to break), when the valves 

 separate from the dissepiments, which remain still united in the 

 axis. Ex. Convolvulus. 



4. Sutural {sutura, a seam), when it takes place at one or 

 both sutures, in a fruit with a simple carpel. Ex. pea. 



5. An in-egular deliiscence, called circumscissile {circumscindo, 

 to cut around), occurs in the plantain, verbena, henbane, &c., 

 where the top of the pericarp falls off like a lid. (Fig. 18 ; 16.) 



116. The forms of the pericaii) are exceedingly diversified, and have been 

 studied by botanists with great attention. The following varieties are generally 

 described in elementary works. 



1. Capsule (a casket), is a term applied to those pericarps 

 which are of a hard and woody texture, proceeding from a com- 

 pound ovary, dehiscing at the side or top, by valves, or some- 

 times by pores only. 



a. The capsule consists of only one cell, or is divided within 



