FRUITS. 



68 



determines the external appearance of the denomination of the fruit. The 

 structure of the fruit, and the arrangement of its parts depends in a great 



Fig. 787. Dorstenia. 



Fig. 788. Dandelion. 



Fig. 789. Apple. 



measure upon the number and position of the carpellary leaves in the pistil , 

 and the manner and extent 

 of their union, and the extent 

 to which their edges are 

 folded inwards. 



The carpellary leaves 

 occupy the summit of the 

 floral axis. The axis ter- 

 minates either in one single 

 carpel, in which case the 

 ovary is one-celled, or unilo- 

 . Follicles cular ; or the axis is sur- 

 rounded by several carpels, 



in which case the manner of their union 



determines the number of cells in the 



ovary. 



THE FRUIT. 



ig. 790. from 

 of larkspur. 



Fig. 791. Sycamore fig. 



The carpels are the chief agents 

 in the formation of the fruit, and they 

 form the endocarp (core), and some- 



Fig. 793. Fruit of a 

 composite. 



Fig. 794. Section of a 

 berry. 



Fig. 792. Sycamore fig. 



times the whole pericarp, or seed- 

 vessel. Upon the nature of the various 

 parts and the changes they undergo during the ripening of the seeds 



