330 



AMPELIDE^. 



[part II. 



ripe ; there are five petals (a mjig. 133), which 

 never expand, but remain fastened together at 

 the tip, detaching themselves at the base, when 



it is necessary that 

 they should give room 

 to the ripening sta- 

 mens (Z>). The petals, 

 which form a kind of 

 extinguisher, when 

 they are raised by the 

 five stamens, fall off 



Fig. 133.— Flowers of the Vine. (c). and OCCasioU the 



chaffy appearance observable in clusters of Vine- 

 flowers. The ovary is, when young, in two 

 cells, each containing two seeds ; and it is 

 crowned with a nearly flat, round stigma, with- 

 out any style. When the fruit begins to swell, 

 the ovary becomes filled with a pulp, which is 

 solid, and not contained in bags like that of the 

 Orange ; and the dissepiment that divided the 

 two cells gradually wastes away. Two, and 

 sometimes three of the seeds also frequently 

 disappear, so that four seeds are rarely found 

 in the ripe grape. The seeds themselves are 

 bony, and covered with a jelly-like matter ; and 

 when they are cut open, they are found to 

 consist of a large quantity of hard albumen, 

 with a very small embryo at the tip. The Vine 

 is a climbing shrub, with lobed leaves, which 



