292 



THE 



dehiscent and indehiscent kinds. 1 Theoretically, each kind may 

 be divided into those of a simple and those of a compound pistil, 

 and some would make the primary division on this character. 

 Some also would separate fruits with adnate or superior calyx 

 from those free of all such combination. But in practice these 

 differences can seldom be indicated by substantative names. 

 The name of berry is equally applicable to the fruit resulting 

 from the single carpel of Actaea, the syncarpous ovary of the 

 grape, and the similar ovaiy with adnate calyx of a gooseberry 

 and cranbeny. It should be understood that the kinds shade 

 off one into another most freely. 



556. Dehiscent Fruits (543), or Pods, are distinguishable into 

 apocarpous, or of single carpels, and syncarpous, of more than 

 one carpel, i. e. the first of a simple, the second of a compound 

 pistil. The first kind is mainly represented by the Follicle and 

 the Legume ; the second, b} T the Capsule and its modifications. 



557. A Follicle is a pod formed 

 of a simple pistil, and dehiscent by 

 one suture (this almost always 

 the ventral or inner suture) alone ; 

 as in the Larkspur, Columbine, 

 Peony, and Marsh-Marigold (Fig. 

 018 618) ; also in Milkweed and Dog- 

 bane. There ma}* be several follicles or only 

 one to a flower, even in the same genus, as in 

 Larkspurs, Cimicifnga, &c. In Magnolia 

 (Fig. 648-650), fleshy carpels become follicles 

 dehiscent by the dorsal suture. 



558. A Legume is the pod formed of a 

 simple pistil which is dehiscent by both sut- 

 ures (as in the Pea, Fig. 619), so dividing 

 into two pieces or valves. (544.) This is the 

 fruit of the Pulse Family, accordingly named 

 Lcguminosae (Leguminous plants) : indeed, 

 the name of legume is restricted to the fruits of this family, 

 and in descriptive botany is extended to all the modifications 



1 Dr. Masters's modification of Dickson's and McNab's classification of 

 simple fruits, as to primary kinds, is into 



1. Nuts, or Achccrocarps, dry and indehiscent ; 



2. Pods, or Rcgmacarps, dry, dehiscent ; 



3. Stone-fruits, orPyrcnocarps, fleshy without, indurated within, indehiscent ; 



4. Berries, or Sarcocarps, fleshy throughout, indehiscent. 



FIG. 618. A dehiscent follicle of Marsh-Marigold, Caltha palustris. 



FIG. 619. Legumo cf a Sweet Pea, already dehiscent. 620. Loment of a Desmodium. 



