316 ORGANOGBAPHT. 



1 . The Cone is a collective, more or less elongated fruit, com- 

 posed of a number of indurated scales, each of which bears one 

 or more naked seeds {figs. 712). This fruit is seen in the Fir 

 {fig. 267), Larch, Spruce ( fig. 394), and many other plants 

 of the order Coniferss ; which derives its name from this cir- 

 cumstance. All plants of the Cycas family also which possess 

 fruit, have one of a similar structure. There are two views as 

 to the nature of the indurated scales : by some botanists they 

 are regarded as carpels spread open, by others as bracts. They 

 certainly more resemble the latter organs in appearance, as they 

 never present any trace of style or stigma on their surface. 



2. The Galbulus. — This fruit is but a modification of the Cone ; 

 differing only in being more or less rounded in form instead of 

 somewhat conical, and having the heads of the scales much en- 

 larged. It is seen in the Cypress {fig. 708), and in the Juniper 

 {fig. 707). In the latter the scales become fleshy, and are 

 united together into one mass, so that it somewhat resembles at 

 first sight a berry, but its nature is at once seen by examining 

 the apex, when three radiating lines will be observed correspond- 

 ing to the three scales of which the fruit has been formed, and 

 which are here but imperfectly united. 



Fig. 101, Fig. 708. Fig. 709. 



Fig. 707. Galbulus or fruit of Juniper (Juniperus communis). Fig. 708. 



Galbulus or fruit of tiie Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens). Fig. 709. 



Sphalerocarpium or fruit of the Tew (.Taxus baccata), surrounded by 

 bracts at tbebase. 



No other kind of fruits except the Cone and Gralbulus are 

 found in the natural orders Coniferse and Cycadacese. 



In the Yew however {Taxus haccata) {fig. 709), and other 

 plants belonging to the Taxacese, an order closely allied to the 

 Coniferse and Cycadacese, the so-called fruit is in reality not a 

 fruit at all, as it consists simply, as demonstrated by Dr. Hooker, 

 of a naked seed, nearly enclosed in a succulent cup-shaped mass, 

 which is a development from the outer coat {prlmine) of the 

 ovule. This so-called fruit has been termed a Sphalerocarpium. 

 Properly speaking, even if regarded as a fruit, it does not belong 



