CHAPTER VII. 



THE FRUIT AND SEED. 



When the blossom begins to fade, " tlie joy of the 

 plant" is departing, but other beauties and parts 

 more important to the animal world are advancing 

 to succeed the decapng inflorescence. The fruit 

 and the seed are then entering on the season of 

 maturity ; will soon offer to the palate some of our 

 most delicious luxuries, nor will beauty of colour be 

 altogether wanting. "The ripened tints of autumn 

 are equally pleasing with the bloom of spring, and 

 the colours of the peach and apricot, the plum 

 and cherry, are in nothing inferior to the blossom 

 which preceded them." 



The petals, stamens, pistils, and frequently the 

 calyx having performed their destined functions, 

 fall and leave the oyslyj or embiyo seed-vessel, re- 

 maining attached to the parent plant. This in- 

 creases in growth and becomes the fruit, which title 

 is not restricted merely to such as ai-e edible, but 

 includes every matured ovary with its contents, and 

 which matured ovary, in botanical language, is kno^ii 

 as the pericarp. This takes various distinct forms. 



