258 



DEHISCENT FRUITS. 



in the form of a hollow cup, and the valves appear as leaves united to 

 it by articulation, similar to what occurs in the calyx of Eschscholtzia. 



In Lecythis, or the Monkey -pot, and 

 in Couratari, the calyx is adherent 

 to the seed-vessel, and the lid is 

 formed at the place where the tube 

 of the calyx ceases to be adherent. 



536. Transverse divisions take 

 place occasionally in fruits formed 

 by a single carpel, as in the pods 

 of some leguminous plants. Exam- 

 ples are met with in Ornithopus, Hedysarum (fig. 460), Coronilla, &c., 

 in which each seed is contained in a separate division, the partitions 

 being formed by the folding in of the sides of the pericarp, and distinct 

 separations taking place at these partitions, by what has been termed 

 solubility. Some look upon these pods as formed by pinnate leaves 



folded, and the divi- 

 sions as indicating the 

 points where the dif- 

 ferent pairs of pinnre 

 are united. Others 

 do not admit this ex- 

 planation, but regard 

 the legume or pod 

 as formed by the ex- 

 -F W^ii^.l^i. panded midrib or pe- 

 tiole, and the pimue 

 as represented by the 

 seeds. Dehiscence may 

 also be effected by partial openings in the pericarp, called pores, 

 which are situated either at the apex, base or side. In the Poppy (fig, 

 409), the opening takes place by numerous pores under the peltate 

 processes bearing the stigmas. In Campanulas, there are irregular 



Fig. 458. Pyxidium or capsule of Anagallis arvensis, opening by circumscissile dehiscence. 

 c, Persistent calyx, p, Pericarp divided into two, the upper part, o, separating in the form of a 

 lid or operculum. On the capsule are seen three lines passing from the base to the apex, and 

 marking the true valves, g, Seeds forming a globular mass round a central placenta. 



Fig. 459. Operculate capsule or Pyxidium of Hyoscyamus niger. Henbane, o, Operculum or 

 lid separating and allowing the seeds to appear. 



Fig. 460. Lomentaceous legume or lomentum of Hedysarum coronarium. 1. Entire, the 

 upper division being nearly detached from the rest. 2. Two of the joints cut longitudinally to 

 show the spurious loculaments, each containing a seed. This seed-vessel divides into separate 

 single-seeded portions by solubility. 



Fig. 461. Capsule of Campanula persicifolia, opening by holes or pores, 1 1, above the middle, 

 c, Persistent calyx, incorporated below with the pericarp, p, and separating above into five 

 acute segments, in the midst of which is seen the withered and plaited corolla in the form of 

 induvias, e. The holes perforate the walls of the pericarp and the calyx. 



Fig. 462. Capsule of Antirrhinum majus, Frogsmouth, after dehiscence. c c, Persistent 

 calyx, p, Pericarp perforated near the summit by three holes, 1 1, two of which correspond to 

 one of the loculaments, and one to the other. The apex of the capsule is acuminated by the 

 remains of the persistent style *. 



