120 



FRUIT. 



[SECTION 14. 



the papery pods arranged like a star in the core really belonging to the 

 carpels. The fruit of the Hawthorn is a drupaceous pome, something be- 

 tween pome and drupe. 



355. Of fruits which are externally fleshy and internally hard the lead- 

 ing kind is 



356. The Drupe, or Stone-fruit ; of which the cherry, plum, and peach 



(Fig. 375) are familiar examples. In this the 

 outer part of the thickness of the pericarp be- 

 comes fleshy, or softens like a berry, while the 

 inner hardens, like a nut. From the way in which 

 the pistil is constructed, it is evident that the 

 fleshy part here answers to the lower, and the 

 stone to the upper face of the component leaf. 

 The layers or concentric portions of a drupe, or 

 of any pericarp which is thus separable, are named, 

 when thus distinguishable into three portions, — 

 Epicarp, the external layer, often the mere skin of the fruit, 

 Mesocarp, the middle layer, which is commonly the fleshy part, and 

 Endocarp, the innermost layer, the stone. But more commonly only two 

 portions of a drupe are distinguished, and are named, the outer one 



Sarcocarp or Exocarp, for the flesh, the first name referring to the fleshy 

 character, the second to its being an external layer ; and 

 Putamen or Endocarp, the Stone, within. 



357. The typical or true drupe is of a single carpel. But, not to multiply 

 technical names, this name is extended to all such fruits when 

 fleshy without and stony within, although of compound pistil, 

 — even to those having several or separable stones, such as the 

 fruit of Holly. These stones in such drupes, or drupaceous 

 fruits, are called Pyrence, or Nucules, or simply Nutlets of 

 the drupe. 



358. Of Dry fruits, there is a greater diversity of kinds hav- 

 ing distinct names. The indehis- 

 cent sorts are commonly one- 

 seeded. 



359. The Akene or Ache- 

 nium is a small, dry and indehis- 

 cent one-seeded fruit, often so 

 seed-like in appearance that it is 

 popularly taken for a naked seed, 

 is a good example, Fig. 376, 377. 



The fruit of the Butter cup or Crowfoot 

 Its nature, as a ripened pistil (in this 



Fig. 375. Longitudinal section of a peach, showing flesh, stone, and seed. 



Fig. 376. Akene of a Buttercup. 377. The same, divided lengthwise, to show 

 the contained seed. 



Fig. 378. Akene of Virgin 's-bower, retaining the feathered style, which aids in 

 dissemination. 



