OEGAXS OF HEPEODTJCTION. 303 



at their margins, penetrate through the -walls of the pericarp 

 formed by the adherent calyx and ovary ; these pores correspond 

 to the number of cells in the ovary, and are either situated at 

 the side {fig. 673), or towards the base {fig. 674). 



Kinds of Fruit. — A number of different kinds of fruit have 

 been distinguished and named, and several classifications of the 

 same have been proposed at various times, but at present there is 

 but little accordance among botanists upon this subject. This 

 is much to be regretted, as there can be no doubt but that a 

 strictly definite phraseology of fruits, founded essentially upon 

 the structure and position of the ovary, would be of great value 

 in descriptive botany. The difficulties attending this subject 

 have been also much increased, by the same names having been 

 given by diflFerent authors to totally distinct kinds of fruits, and 

 even to different classes of fruits. In a work like the present it 

 would be impossible to describe all the different kinds of fruits 

 which have received names. At the same time, I consider the 

 subject of far too much importance to be hastily disposed of, 

 and shall accordingly devote as much space as possible to its 

 consideration. Those who wish to investigate the matter 

 further than my limits will allow me to do, would do well to 

 consult Lindley's Introduction to Botany, for of all writers upon 

 Carpolog}', this author has done most to reduce a perfect chaos 

 to at least some degree of regularity, and I have accordingly 

 made much use of his labours in classifj'ing and defining the 

 different kinds of fruits. The classification, however, adopted 

 here, differs in some particulars from Dr. Lindley's. We have 

 taken the pistil as our guide, and have accordingly used the 

 terms when applied to fruits in precisely the same sense as 

 previously defined in treating of that organ. 



The leading divisions of the classification here adopted are 

 as follows : — 



1 . Fruits formed by a Single Flower. 



a. Simple Fruits. 



b. Apocarpous Fruits. 



c. Syncarpous Fruits. 



2. Fruits formed bv the combination of several Flowers. 



1. Fruits formed by a Single Flower. 



a. Simple Fruits. By a simple fruit, we mean one which is 

 formed of a single carpel or ovary, and only one produced by a 

 single flower. By some botanists this term is used to signify all 

 fruits of whatever nature, which are the produce of a single 

 flower ; thus including the simple, apocarpous, and synccupous 

 fruits of our classification. We describe four kinds of simple 



