IKTROBUCTION. Xxi 



the exception of the outer stin or rind, called the Epicarp. The seeds themselves are 

 usually immersed ui the pidp ; but in some berries, the seeds are separated from the 

 pulp by the walls of the cavity or eells of the ovary, which forms as it were a thin inner 

 skm or rind, called the U^idocmy. 



the Dn(2>e, in which tlie pericarp, when ripe, consists of two distinct portions, an 

 outer succidcnt one called the Sarcocarp (covered like the berrv by a skin or epicarp), 

 and an inner dry endocarp called the Futamen, wliich is either carfUafinous (of tlie 

 consistence of parchment) or hard and woody. In the latter case it is commonly 

 called a stone^ and the drupe a stone-fmit When the putamen consists of several 

 distmct stones or nuts, each enclosing a seed, thev are called purenes, or sometimes 



158, The principal kinds of dry fi-uits are 



the Capsule or Pod^^ which is dehiscent. When ri]>e the pericarp usually splits 

 iongitudinally into as many or twice as many pieces, called valves, as it contains cells 

 or placentas. If these valves separate at the line ot junction of the carpels, that is, along 

 tlie luie of the placentas or dissepiments, either splitting them or leaving them attached 

 to tJje axis, the dehiscence is termed sepiicidal ; if the ralres sci^aruto between tlie 

 placentas or dissepiment, the dehiscence is loculicidal^ and the valves either bear llie 

 pluceutas or dissepiments along their middle line, or leave them attached to the axis. 

 Sometimes also the capsule discharges its seeds by sUts^ cJunhs, or pores, more or less 

 j*eguku'ly arranged, or bursts irregularly, or separates into two parts by a horizontal 

 line ; m the latter case it is said to be circmmclss. 



^ tJie Nut or Achene^ wJiich is indehiscent and contains but a single seed. "VYlien the 

 pericarp is tliin in proportion io the seed it encloses, the whole fruit (or each of its 

 Aobes) has the appearance of a single seed, and is so called in popular language. If the 

 pericarp is thin and rather loose, it is often called an Utncle, A Samara is a nut with 

 a wmg at its upper end. 



159. Where the carpels of the pistil arc distinct (125) they may severally become 

 as many distinct berries, drupes, capsules, or achenes. Separate carpels are usually 

 niore or less compressed laterally, with more or less prominent inner and outer 

 ^gcs, called sitfnres, and, if deliiscent, the carpel usually opens at these sutures. A 

 -tollicle is a carpel opening at the inner suture only. In some cases where the carpels 

 ^^'V^!]^^*^^ iii the ])istil they will separate when ripe ; they are then called Cocci if one- 



160. The peculiar fruits of some of the large Orders have received special names, 

 ^iiich will be explained under each Order. Such are the sUiqua and siUcnle of Cruei- 

 lera?, the legume of Leguminos^, the pome of Pi/rns and its allies, the pepo of Cucur- 



itaceoe, the cone of Coniferir, ihe grabi or carj/opsis of Graminete, etc. 



§ 14. The Seed. 



U^l* ^^^^ ^^®d 18 enclosed in the pericarp in the great majority of flowering plants, 

 ^auecl therefore Angiosj^enns, or angiospermous plant $, In ConifercB and a very few 

 aiJied genera, called Gymnosperms, or ggmnospermou^ plants, fclie seed is naked, without 

 any real pericarp. These truly gymnospermous plants must not be confounded with 

 t^ \?^^' ^oraglnem, etc., whieli have also been falsely called gymnosi>ermous, their 



\r9 ^f liaving the appearance of seeds (158). 

 fiir x: ^^^^ ^^^*-'^ ^^\^^ contains an emhryo or young plant, either fiihng or nearly 

 ^ing the cavity, but not attached to the outer skin or the seed, or more or less va^^ 

 uJtrsed nx a mealy, oily, tloshy, or horn-like substance, called the alhumen, or pen- 

 *P^rm. The presence or absence of this albumen, that is, the distinction between alhu- 

 Z^^'^T and exalhumhwus seeds, is oiic of great importance. The embryo or albumen 

 tan otten only be found or disthiguished when the seed is quite ripe, or sometimes only 



/" ^^^^gi"3 to germinate. , 



«ii i^'xi '^ ^'^'^^^ *^*' ^he seed consists usually of two separable coafs. The outer coat^ 



somenm "^^'^^ "^lescriptions, pod is more frequentlv 

 ^"■^^^ pouch, when it is short and thick or broad. 



