224 SYCONUS. THE OVULE. 
fruits of the genus Rubus, but in origin and structure the latter 
are totally different. Thus, as already noticed in speaking of 
the Etzrio (page 314), the Raspberry, and other fruits of the 
genus Rubus, consist of a number of drupes or fleshy achzenia 
crowded together upon a dry thalamus, and are all the produce 
of a single flower. But in the Mulberry, on the contrary, 
each rounded portion of which the fruit is made up is de- 
rived from a flower, the calyx of which has become succulent 
and united to the ovary ; the combination of a number of flowers 
in this case therefore forms the fruit, while in the Raspberry 
the fruit is produced by one flower only. 
4. The Syconus is a collective fruit, formed of an enlarged 
and more or less succulent receptacle, which bears a number of 
separate flowers. The Fig (jig. 406) is an example of a syconus. 
Tn this, the flowers are almost entirely enclosed by the enlarged 
hollow, pear-shaped receptacle, and what are commonly called 
seeds are in reality one-seeded fruits resembling achzenia. The 
Dorstenia (fig. 407) is another example of the syconus, although 
it differs a good deal from that of the Fig in its general appear- 
ance ; thus the receptacle is less succulent, and only slightly 
concave except at its margins, so that the separate fruits are here 
readily observed. 
All the more important fruits which have been named and 
described by botanists have now been alluded to, but in 
practice only a few are in common use—such as the Legume, 
Drupe, Achene, Follicle, Caryopsis, Siliqua, Silicula, Capsule, 
Nut, Pome, Berry, and Cone. This has arisen, partly from 
the same names having been given by different botanists to 
totally distinct kinds of fruits; and partly from botanists in 
many cases preferring to describe a particular fruit according to 
the special characters it presents. It is, however, much to be 
regretted that a comprehensive arrangement of accurately-named 
and well-defined fruits should not be generally adopted, as it 
cannot be doubted that, if such were the case, it would be 
attended with much advantage, and save a good deal of unne- 
cessary description and repetition. 
4 
Section 6. THE OvuLE AND SEED. 
Havine now described the nature, structure, and general 
characters of the gyncecium or unimpregnated pistil, and the 
fruit or mature pistil, we pass to the description of the bodies 
contained respectively within them, namely, the Ovule or 
infertilised body, and the Seed or fertilised Ovule. 
1. THE OVULE. 
The ovule is a small, somewhat rounded or oval, pulpy 
‘body, borne by the placenta, and which when fertilised becomes 
the seed. It is either attached directly to the placenta, when 
