THE FLOWERS AND FRUIT. 29 



Terminal, when it stands on the top of the germen. 



Lateral, when attached to the side. 



Erect, standing straight ; spreading, recurved, &c. 



Persistent, remaining after the fruit is matured. 



3. The Stigma (Fig. 136, c.), is the top of the style, which is 

 generally enlarged. It varies greatly in form, and is variously 

 lobed or divided. It is frequently downy, and always more or 

 less moist. The pollen falling upon the stigma, influences the 

 seeds contained in the germen, so that they become capable of 

 attaining maturity. 



VI. The Fruit. 



The Fruit is the germen or ovary arrived at maturity. It is 

 composed essentially of two parts, the Pericarp or Seed-vessel, 

 and the Seed. Many fruits, of small size, and having the peri- 

 carp closely enveloping the seed, were considered by Linnaeus and 

 others as naked seeds, but are now known to be true fruits, and 

 not merely seeds. In the description of plants, however, as a 

 matter of convenience, these small hard fruits are usually called 

 naked seeds. The only naked seeds known, however, are confined 

 to the Pines, Firs, and Cycases. 



The Pericarp, or part which immediately 'invests the seed or 

 seeds, and originally formed the germen or ovary, varies ex- 

 tremely in size, thickness, and texture. It is always formed of 

 three parts : the Epicarp, Mesocarp, and Endocarp. The Epi- 

 carp, is an external thin membrane or skin ; the Mesocarp, is the 

 layer immediately under the epicarp, and may be thin or thick, 

 dry or juicy ; the Endocarp, is the innermost membrane, varying 

 in texture, and bounding the cavity which contains the seed. 

 Thus, in the Cherry, the glossy skin is the Epicarp ; the pulpy 

 mass is the Mesocarp, and the hard shell covering the seed is the 

 Endocarp. 



Of the very numerous varieties of Fruits, the following may be 

 mentioned. 



1. The Capsule (Fig. 137.) is a dry seed-vessel, generally of a 

 membranous texture. It frequently splits in a regular manner 

 into several parts when ripe. These parts are called valves. In- 

 ternally it consists of a single cavity, in which case it is called 

 one-celled or unilocular ; or of two or more cavities. These cavi- 

 ties or cells are separated by partitions; and there is often a cen- 

 tral stalk or column, to which the seeds are attached. 



2. The Pod or Siliqua (Fig. 138.) is a long dry seed-vessel, 

 of two pieces or valves, separated by a longitudinal partition, to 



