SEPTIFRAGAL DEHISCENCE. 305 
in a septicidal manner are termed cocci, and the fruit is described 
as dicoccous, tricoccous, &c., according to their number. In cer- 
tain fruits, such as those of the Linwm cathurticum, the ovaries 
open first by their dorsal suture, and then separate from each 
other in a septicidal manner. 
Some botanists call all fruits, the carpels of which separate 
from each other without opening—schizocarps ; and term their 
component carpels cocci if there are more than two, or if only 
two in number, as in the Umbelliferze,—mericarps. 
C. Septifragal Dehiscence.—In this form of dehiscence the 
carpels open by their dorsal sutures, as in loculicidal dehiscence, 
and at the same time the dissepiments separate from the walls 
J 
Bie. 677. Fic. 679. 
Fic. 678. 
QL 
ol 
Fig. 677. Capsule of Cedrela angustifolia, showing septifragal dehiscence. 
v, v,v. Valves. a. Axis bearing the dissepiments, c,c, and seeds, g. 
Fig. 678. Diagram illustrating septifragal dehiscence. Fig. 679. Capsule 
of Datura Stramonium, showing septifragal dehiscence. 
and remain united to each other and to the axis (jigs. 677 and 
678), which in this case is generally more or less prolonged. 
Here .each valve is composed of the two halves of adjoining 
ovaries. This form of dehiscence may be seen in Datura 
Stramoniwm (fig. 679), and Cedrela (fig. 677). The placentas 
bearing the seeds are here attached to the axis, a, between 
the dissepiments, ¢, c. 
In compound fruits with one cell having parietal or free 
central placentation, we have two forms of dehiscence ; these 
are analogous to the ordinary septicidal and loculicidal kinds 
just described. Thus, in compound fruits with parietal pla- 
x 
