GROUP V. AXGIOSPERM.E. 



475 



into one-seeded portions. It resembles the lomenturn, and is 

 therefore said to be lonientaceous. . 



(d) The capsule is derived from a polymerous syncarpous ovary 

 which may be uni- or multilocular ; it splits into two or more 

 valves, either for a short distance only from the apex down- 

 wards, or down to the very base (Fig. 288 B). If the carpels 

 become separated from each other, and in the case of multi- 

 locular ovaries this involves the splitting of the dissepiments 

 (Fig. 289 A), the dehiscence is said to be tsepticidal ; if, on the 

 other hand, each carpel splits along its dorsal suture, the 

 dehiscence is said to be loculicirlal (Fig. 289 B). In eithe 

 form of dehiscence in a multilocular ovary the placentae may 

 either adhere to the valves (Fig. 289 B), or remain united into 

 a central column which is free from the valves ; in the latter 

 case the dehiscence is further described as being septifragal 

 (Fig. 289 O. 



The capsule is 

 usually superior, 

 but sometimes, as 

 in Iridaceae and 

 Campanulacese, it 

 is inferior ; a spe- 

 cial term, diplotegi- 

 um, is applied to the 

 inferior capsule by 

 some authors. 



(2) The form of capsule known 

 as a pyxidium has a transverse 

 dehiscence, e.g. in Plantago, 

 Anagallis, Hyoscyamus (Fig. 

 288 E) ; the upper part falls off 

 like a lid. 



(3) The porous capsule, e.g. the 



Poppy (Fig. 288 D), sheds its seeds through small holes arising from the 

 removal of small portions of the wall in certain spots. 



B. SUCCULENT FBUITS. In these the pericarp is usually differentiated 

 into layers, and some portion of it retains its sap until it is ripe, and 

 usually becomes fleshy at that stage ; it is indehiscent. 



(1) The drupe (Fig. 290) is superior and monomerous, e.g. the Plum, 

 Cherry ; or syncarpous, e.g. the Walnut and Coco-Nut. The most internal 

 layer, the endocarp, is very hard and sclerenchymatous (Fig. 290 e ; it is 

 commonly known as the stone in Plums, Peaches, etc., and encloses the 

 seed until germination: the mesocarp is generally succulent, and the 

 epicarp is a delicate membrane : when the fruit consists of several drupes, 

 they are commonly termed drupels (e.g. Raspberry). 



(2) The berry (bacca): the endocarp is soft and juicy as well as the meso- 

 carp, so that the seeds are imbedded in the pericarp : there may be one 

 seed only, as in the Date ; or many, as in the Gourd, Currant and Grape . 



FIG. 239. Diagrammatic sections of dehiassnt 

 multilocular capsules. A Septicidal, B loculi- 

 cidal, dehiscence; C loculicidal septifragal 

 dehiscence. 



