74 



FRUIT OR SEED. 



Fip. 139. 



The Nut is a dry bony fruit, commonly with only one cell, 

 but sometimes with more. It differs from the drupe, in want- 

 ing the fleshy pericarp. Its external envelope is sometimes 

 hard and valvular, as in the Walnut, and sometimes membra- 

 nous as in the Hazelnut, (Corylus.) In others the covering 

 is only partial, as in the Acorn. 



Bacca, Fig. 139, a Berry. The berry is a 

 ucculent fruit, in which the seeds lose their 

 adhesion, when ripe, and lie loose in the pulp. 

 The Berry becomes more juicy internally, as it 

 advances to maturity, quite contrary to the 

 nature of the capsule, though the difference 

 between these two unripe fruits may not be 

 discernible, and though some true Berries, 

 when fully ripe, finally become of a dry and 

 spongy texture, but they (the Berry) never 

 open by valves, or any regular orifice, like the 

 capsule. Ex. Currant, Gooseberry. 



Cut an Orange, or Lemon, in two, and you will find it* 

 seeds, neither in a stone, like the Cherry, nor in a capsule, a* 

 in the Apple, but lying naked in the pulp. The Orange ana 

 Lemon, therefore, are berries. 



The Strawberry, Fig. 140, is not a berry, but 

 a soft, red, pulpy receptacle, which bears the 

 seeds on its outside, which appear like small 

 yellowish dots. 



Fig. 140. 



seed. 



142. 



Compound Berry, Fig. 141. This consists of 

 many small berries, each containing a seed, united 

 into one mass. The Blackberry, and Raspberry, 

 are common examples of the compound berry. 

 Each protuberance, or individual part, is denomi- 

 nated an acinus, or grain ; and contains within it. a single 



Apple, Fig. 142, Pome, orPomum. This is 

 a fleshy pericarp without valves, arid therefore 

 in this respect resembles the berry or drupe. 

 But it differs from both these, in containing a 

 capsule which encloses the seeds. The Apple, 

 Quince, and Pear, are common examples. The 

 number of seeds contained in pericarps of this 



How does the nut differ from the drupe ? What is the definition of a 

 bacca, or berry ? What are common examples of a berry ? What is the 

 strawberry in the language of Botany ? What is a compound berry ? 

 "What are examples of the compound berry ? How doe's the ap'pls or 

 i? from the berry, and drupe ? 



