ORGANS OF EEPEODrCTION. 



297 



and many other Leguminous Plants. This form of dehiscence 

 is commonly known as sutural. 



In compound fruits having two or more cells, and therefore 

 with axile placentation, there are three leading forms of dehis- 

 cence, which are called respectively sejpticidal, loculicidal, and 

 septifragal. 



A. Septicidal Dehiscence. — In this form the fruit is separated 

 into its component ovaries or carpels, by a division taking place 

 between the two halves of each dissepiment {fig. 655). It is 

 seen in the Colchiciim, in the Sa'ojjhularia, and the Rhododen- 

 dron, &c. In this dehiscence each valve corresponds to an 

 ovary or carpel, and the valves are said to have their margins 

 turned inwards. In this form of dehiscence the placentas with 

 the seeds attached are either carried away with the valves {fig. 

 656), as in the Colchicum {fig. 655) ; or the valves break away 

 from the placentas, which remain united and form a central 

 column (fig. 657). 



Fig. 655. 



Fig. 658. 



Fig. 659. 



Fig. 660. 



Fig. 655. Capsule of the Meadow Saffron {ColcMcnm 



autumnale), showing septicidal deliiscence. 



Fig. 656. Diagram of septicidal dehiscence, show- 

 ing the placentas and seeds carried away with 

 the valves. Fig. 657. Diagram of septicidal de- 

 hiscence, showing the valves breaking away from 

 a central column formed by the union of the 



placentas. Fig. 658. Capsule of a species of Hibiscus, dehiscing loculi- 



cidally. v, v, v. Valves, c. Dissepiments, g. Seeds. Fig. 659. Dia- 

 gram of loculicidal dehiscence, in which the valves carry the placentas 



with them. Fig. 660. Diagram of loculicidal dehiscence, in which the 



valves have separated from the placentas which remain as a central 

 column. 



B. Locidicidal Dehiscence. — This is said to occur when each 

 carpel or ovary opens by its dorsal suture, or through the back 

 of the cells, the dissepiments remaining undivided {fi.g. 658). 

 Here each valve is composed of the united halves of two ad- 

 joining ovaries or carpels, and the valves are said to bear the 

 dissepiments in the middle. Examples may be seen in the Lily, 



