APOCARPOUS FRUITS. 259 



openings towards the middle or base (fig. 461 i), which pierce both 

 the pericarp and the adherent calyx. In Frogsmouth (fig. 462) or 

 Snapdragon, the pericarp gives way at certain fixed points, forming 

 two or three orifices, one of which corresponds to the upper carpel, 

 and the other to the lower. These orifices have a ragged appearance 

 at the margins, which has given rise to the name rupturing, as applied 

 to this mode of dehiscence. 



537. Carpology. Much has been done of late in the study of car- 

 pology (xajxof, fruit, and Aoyo?, discourse), or the formation of the 

 fruit ; but much still remains to be done ere the terminology of this 

 department is complete. Many classifications of fruits have been 

 given, but they are confessedly imperfect, and unfortunately much 

 confusion has arisen in consequence of the same names having been 

 applied to different kinds of fruit. In many cases, therefore, it is 

 necessary to give a description of a fruit in place of using any single 

 term. There are, however, some names in general use, and others 

 which have been carefully defined, to which it is necessary to direct 

 attention. 



538. Fruits may be formed by one flower, or they may be the 

 product of several flowers combined. In the former case, they are 

 either apocarpous (xo, separate, and xag^oV, fruit) or dialycarpous 

 (<Wxv<w, I dissolve or separate), that is, composed of one mature 

 carpel, or of several separate free carpels ; or syncarpous avv, together), 

 that is, composed of several carpels, more or less completely united. 

 These different kinds of fruits may be indehiscent (not opening), or 

 dehiscent (opening). When the fruit is composed of the ovaries of 

 several flowers united, it is usual to find the bracts and floral envelopes 

 also joined with them, so as to form one mass ; hence such fruits are 

 called multiple or anthocarpous (olvOos, flower, and XX^TTOS fruit). The 

 term simple is perhaps properly applied to fruits, which, when mature, 

 appear to be formed of one carpel only ; but it has been also given to 

 those which, when mature, are formed by several separate carpels; 

 while the term compound is applied to cases where several carpels are 

 combined. The name aggregate is by some made synonymous with 

 anthocarpous, while multiple is applied to apocarpous fruits formed by 

 several free carpels. 



Fruits which are the Produce of a Single Flower. 



539. Apocarpous Fruit*. These fruits are formed out of one or 

 several free carpels. They are either dry or succulent ; the pericarp, 

 in the former instance, remaining more or less foliaceous in its struc- 

 ture, and sometimes becoming incorporated with the seed; in the 

 latter, becoming thick and fleshy, or pulpy. Some of these do not 

 open when ripe, but fall entire, the pericarp either decaying, and thus 



