XIV. THE FRUIT GIFT. 26l 



brown thing they sustain and carry away on the 

 wind, which must be examined as the essential 

 product of the floret; — the 'seed and husk.' 



12. Every seed has a husk, holding either that 

 seed alone, or other seeds with it. 



Every perfect seed consists of an embryo, and 

 the substance which first nourishes that embryo ; 

 the whole enclosed in a sack or other sufficient 

 envelope. Three essential parts altogether. 



Every perfect husk, vulgarly pericarp, or ' round- 

 fruit,' — (as periwig, 'round-wig,') — consists of a 

 shell, (vulgarly endocarp), rind, (vulgarly mesocarp), 

 and skin, (vulgarly epicarp) ; three essential parts 

 altogether. But one or more of these parts may 

 be effaced, or confused with another; and in the 

 seeds of grasses they all concentrate themselves 

 into bran. 



13. When a husk consists of two or more parts, 

 each of which has a separate shaft and volute, 

 uniting in the pillar and volute of the flower, 

 each separate piece of the husk is called a 'carpel.' 

 The name was first given by De Candolle, and 

 must be retained. But it continually happens that 

 a simple husk divides into two parts corresponding 

 to the two leaves of the embryo, as in the peach, 

 or symmetrically holding alternate seeds, as in the 

 pea. The beautiful drawing of the pea-shell with 



