152 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. CHAP. III. 



the pod of the Pea and Bean. It is lobed if the 

 portions into which it may separate are attached 

 to a common axis, as in Colchicum. There is also 

 another species of compound fruit distinguished by 

 Gaertner, which is formed by the union of two or 

 more ovaries of different flowers combined into 

 one whole, as in Caprifolius and Artocarpus. I 

 do not recollect whether Gaertner has designated 

 this species of fruit by any particular name ; but 

 it might be very appropriately designated by the 

 appellation of the combined fruit. 



Such are the general and external modifications 

 of the fruit considered as forming an individual 

 whole. But it is yet to be considered as composed 

 of constituent parts, an exterior part, which is the 

 ripened ovary, now the Pericarp ; and an interior 

 part, which is the Seed. 



SUBSECTION I. 



Defini- The Pericarp. The pericarp which is merely 

 the exterior part of the ripened fruit, and which 

 generally constitutes its principal mass, assumes by 

 consequence the same exterior modifications of 

 form, at least as long as it remains entire. But 

 Divisible in the mature state of the fruit the pericarp often 

 valves. separates spontaneously into several distinct sec- 

 tions or portions, called valves, including the seed ; 

 and in some cases also an upright and central co- 

 lumn, called the axis of the fruit or pericarp, as in 





