remain cm loscd there until the shell (lec<i\ s and the 

 kernels can L^crminate and become new j^lants. 



Ill the currant, i^ooseberr)', and date we find 

 examples of indehiscent fruits with a sweet fleshy 

 pericarp. In the date there is onl)' one seed in 

 each fruit, and a curious thin cndocarp can be 

 obserxed einelopin^^ the solitary seed. Many 

 allied sjjecies," as well as the date, pcxssess this 

 sweet jKMMcarp, which must decay in order to 

 liberate the seeds, and in the case of succulent 

 fruits the process is frequently assisted b}- the 

 fruit-catini; birds. 



It may be well to draw attention to the very 

 simple kind of fruit pos.sessed by the buttercup 

 and other similar plants. It is a dry membranous 

 pericarp, and inside one seed exists free from the 

 pericarp ; this remains closed, like other forms of 

 the indehiscent types, and technicall)- this fruit is 

 known as an achene (from achnncs, not gaping), 

 and it is well named, as it remains clcsed until 

 decay enables the growing radicle to breakthrough 

 the pericarp and enter the ground. The curious 

 after-development of the strawberr)- fruit is worth 

 a little careful stud)-. 



