CHANGES SUCCEEDING IMPREGNATION. CHAP. VIII, 



commenced ; as is indicated first by the decay of the 

 stamens, then of the petals, and then of the calyx, 

 which wither and shrink up, and finally detach 

 themselves from the fruit altogether, except in some 

 particular cases in which one or other of them be- 

 comes permanent and falls only with the fruit. The 

 stigma exhibits also similar symptoms of decay and 

 the style itself often perishes. The parts contigu- 

 ous to the flower, such as the bractes and floral 

 leaves, are sometimes also affected ; and finally the 

 whole plant, at least in the case of annuals, begins 

 to exhibit indications of decay. But while the 

 Augmen- flower withers and falls, the ovary is advancing to 

 th n vary. perfection, swelling and augmenting in size, and re- 

 ceiving now all the nutriment by which the decayed 

 parts were formerly supported. Its colour begins 

 to assume a deeper and richer tinge ; its figure is 

 also often altered, and new parts are even occasion- 

 ally added wings, crests, prickles, hooks, bloom, 

 down. The common receptacle of the fruit under- 

 goes also similar changes, becoming sometimes large 

 and succulent, as in the Fig and Strawberry ; and 

 sometimes juiceless arid indurated, as in compound 

 flowers. Such are the external changes consequent 

 upon impregnation as effecting the flower and fruit, 



