138 



THE FLOWERING PLANT. 



^*fX 



Fig. 59.— Diagrams of Capsules [original] A-E. cross-sections of dehiscing capsules. 

 A. unilocular septicidal ; B. plurilocular septicidal ; C. unilocular loculicidal ; D. 

 plunlocular loculicidal ; E. septifragal ; p. placentas (thickened edges of carpellary 

 leaves), split in A, B, D (ef. B xoith follicle) ; vi-r. midribs of carpellary leaves, split 

 in C, D, E (c/. D with legume)', d. dissepiments (formed by sides of adjacent carpel- 

 lary leaves), split in B ; s. seeds, represented small for the sake of clearness, compare 

 with fig. 48. F. capsule of primrose, dehiscing above ten teeth. G. capsule of poppy, 

 dehiscing above by pores, beneath each of which is a valve. 



foxglove (two loculi), saffron (three). Or, 

 again, each carpel may split along its 

 dorsal margin. The dissepiments then 

 either separate from one another, when 

 the capsule is loculicidal, e.g., tulip, lily, 

 and iris, or remain united, forming a 

 column in the centre of the fruit, when 

 the capsule is septifragal, e.g., rhododen- 

 dron. Where, as in violet, a capsule con- 

 tains but one loculus, and its carpels split 

 along their midribs, this may be termed 

 loculicidal. When the placentation is 

 free-central, dehiscence is usually by teeth, 

 as in primrose and pink. 



(b.) Transversely (pyxidium). — Here a lid falls 

 off. Ex. Scarlet pimpernel, plantain, 

 henbane (fig. 60). 



(c.) By p>ores (porous capsule). — Ex. Snapdragon, 

 (two pores), poppy (many). (Fig. 59, G.) 



B. Succulent Fruits. — Pericarp more or less fleshy. 

 1. Indehiscent. — Pericarp does not burst. 



a. Stone-fruit or drupe, superior, single-seeded, epi- 

 carp membranous, mesocarp succulent, endocarp 



Fig. 60.— Pyxidium of 

 Henbane. 



