CHAPTER XVI 



FRUITS 



If a flower has been fertilized, changes will take place in the 

 ovule and other parts of the plant, and fruit will be formed. 

 Sometimes, after wind and insects have done their share in 

 pollination, a prolonged rain will wash off the pollen before 

 fertilization has taken place. In that case the flowers are of 

 no more use. They are quickly cut off by a layer of cork, and 

 fall to the ground. If a hard storm comes when apricots are 

 flowering, " it will be a poor year for fruit," the farmers say. 

 But, as compensation, a few flowers which were protected will 

 form fine large fruit. The storm may be fortunate, as it gives 

 the trees a rest. It is exhaustive work to form fruit. Food 

 must be made for the embryo which begins to grow, and the 

 seed-coats must be strengthened. Sometimes a third coat, 

 called an arillus, is formed after fertilization. When the 

 ovule is ripe it is called a seed. 



In the second place, the ovary undergoes changes, which 

 aid the seed-coats in protecting the embryos, but their chief 

 use is to scatter the seed. We speak of the ripened ovary as 

 the fruit. The ripening ovules derive their nourishment from 

 the mother plant through their attachment to the ovary. 



Some fruits are dry and hard ; others are juicy. A dry 

 fruit is frequently miscalled a seed. On the other hand, any 

 part of the plant that is good to eat is apt to be called a fruit, 

 even to a potato ! Have you ever seen the fruit of potato ? 



A. Fruits formed from a Single Flower. — Osteospcr- 

 vimn forms a circle of seed-like fruits. Each one contains a 

 hard white shining seed. The fruit is borne below the flower 

 and is indehiscent ; that is, it does not open to let out the 

 seed. The fruit of the Composite family, to which Osteosperm 



