160 



FRUITS 



Dehiscence may be basal. (Fig. 283.) Two-loculed capsules 

 that resemble legumes in external appearance are those of 

 catalpa and trumpet-creeper. (Figs. 284, 285.) 



318. The peculiar capsule of the mustard 

 family, or Cruciferse, is known as a silique when 

 it is distinctly longer than broad (Fig. 266), and 

 a silicle when its breadth nearly equals or exceeds 

 its length. (Fig. 286.) A cruciferous cap- 

 sule is 2-carpelled, usually with a thin 

 partition, each locule containing seeds in 



one or two rows. The two valves detach 

 from below upwards. Cabbage, mustard, 

 cress, shepherd's purse, sweet alyssum, 

 wallflower, honesty, are examples. 



319. The pericarp may be fleshy and 



indehiscent. A pulpy 

 pericarp with several or 

 many seeds is a berry. 

 (Fig. 287.) To the hor- 

 ticulturist a berry is a 

 small, soft, edible fruit, 

 without particular reference to its struc- 

 ture. The botanical and horticultural conceptions of a 



berry are, therefore, 

 unlike. In the botan- 

 ical sense, gooseber- 

 ries, currants, grapes, 

 tomatoes, potato- 

 balls and even egg- 

 plant fruits (Fig. 288) 

 are berries ; strawber- 

 ries, raspberries, 

 blackberries are not. 

 320. A fleshy peri- 



287. Berries of the snowberry. Carp Containing One 



2 shepherd's purse. 



0*1*1 



tecoma or trumpet- 



