78 PBACTIGAL BOTANY. 



persistent involucre, which takes the form of a cup (cupu- 

 la), as in the Oaks, or of a bur, as in Chestnut, or of a 

 leafy covering (in the Hazelnut). 



144. Samaka, or key-fruit, is either an achenium, or 

 any other indehiscent fruit, furnished with a wing. As 

 instances, we may mention the fruits of the Ash, Maple, 

 Elm. (Fig. 10 is the samara of Ulmus fulva, with the cell 

 opened.) 



J, DEHISCENT DRY FRUITS. 



145. Dehiscent dry fruits are of two classes : those 

 from a simple pistil and those from a compound one. 



a, DEHISCENT DRY FRUITS FROM A SIMPLE PISTIL. 



146. The FOLLICLE is a pod, resulting from a single 

 carpel, and opening at the ventral or inner suture, as in 

 Marsh-Marigold (Fig. 14), or in Spiraea, Asclepias, etc. 



147. Legume is a dry dehiscent fruit, from a simple 

 pistil, which splits open at both the ventral and dorsal su- 

 tures — that isj by two valves, as in most of the Legumi- 

 nous plants. (Fig. 11.) 



148. The LOMENT is a peculiar sort of pod, separating 

 transversely into two or more 1-seeded joints, which com- 

 monly fall away at maturity. These joints usually remain 

 closed, as in Desmodium (Fig. 12), but sometimes split 

 into two valves, as in Mimosa. 



149. The PYXIS, or pyxidium, is a many-seeded dry 

 fruit, which opens by a circular, transverse line, cutting 

 off the upper part as a lid (circumscissile dehiscence). 

 This sort of fruit belongs to Plantago, Portulaca (Fig. 6), 

 Hyoscyamus, Anagallis, etc. (The fruit of Amaranth is a 

 pyxis, as well as a utricle.) 



