OKGANS OF EErRODUCTION. 



313 



as many cells as there are seeds, as in Cathartocarpus Fis- 

 tula (Jig. 599); in which plant also the legume is indehiscent, 

 but tlie two sutures are clearly marked externally. The nature 

 of the above fruits can only be accurately ascertained by 

 examining the ovary, and tracing its development. Other in- 

 dehiscent legumes are also met with, as in Arachis, Ptero- 

 carpits, &c., in which there is sometimes no evident mark of 

 the sutures exteimally; these will, however, frequently split into 

 two valves hke those of a pea, if a little pressure be applied, 

 as in the ordinary process of shelling peas. 



2. The Lomentwn.— This is a kind of legume which is con- 

 tracted in a moniliform manner between each seed, as in 

 Hedysariim {Jig. 670), Ornithnpus, Acacia Sophora {fg. 676). 



Fig. 673. 



Fig. 675. 



Fig.. 676 



Fig. 674. 



Fio. f.73. Coiled up legume of .S'corprKru.'! SH7crt<a Fig- G74. Snail-like 



lesume of Medicago orbiculata Fig- (i7.5. Spiral or screw-like legume , 



ofl.ucerm(,Medicago). Fig. 676. ludehiscent lomeutura of a species 



of Acacia. 



It is sometimes called a lomentaceous legume or pud. This fruit, 

 together with the former, characterise the plants of the Legu- 

 minosffi. When the lomentum is ripe, it commonly separates 

 into as manv pieces as there are contractions on its surface 

 (fig. 670), or'it remains entire {fig. 676); in the latter case, the 

 seeds are separately enclosed in cavities which are formed by the 

 production of as many internal spurious dissepiments as there 

 are external contractions. 



3. The Drupe.— This is a superior, one-celled, one or two 

 seeded, indehiscent fruit, haAung a fleshy or pulpy sarcocarp, a 

 hard or bony endocarp, and the pericarp altogether, separable 

 into its component parts, namely, of epicarp, sarcocarp, and 

 endocarp. This is sometimes called a stone-fruit. Examples 

 occur in the Peach {figs. 677 and 678), Apricot, Plunv Cheriy 

 {fig. 679), Olive, &c. In the Almorid, the fruit presents all 



