STRUCTURE OF FRUITS 



217 



Henbane, and Plantain, the capsules split transversely and 

 the upper part comes away as a lid. 



Succulent fruits. We have seen (p. 215) that the pericarp 

 of many dry fruits splits when ripe, and the seeds, sur- 

 rounded by a thick testa, are dispersed. On the other hand, 

 the more familiar edible fruits have a succulent or juicy coat 

 which does not split when ripe ; that is, they are indehiscent. 

 Examine the fruit of a Cherry (Fig. 152) and note the thin 



Fig. 152. Vertical Section 

 of Drupe of Cherry. c, coty- 

 ledon ; e, epicarp ; en, endo- 

 carp ; m, mesocarp ; pi, plum- 

 ule ; r, radicle ; t, testa. 



Fig. 153. Aeterio of 

 Drupels of Blackberry. 

 a, remains of stamens ; 

 r, receptacle ; st, stigmas. 



outer coat or epicarp, the fleshy middle coat or mesocarp, 

 and the hard inner coat, the stone or endocarp, enclosing 

 one seed. 



The Plum and the Damson are fruits similar to the 

 Cherry, all three arising from a superior apocarpous pistil. 

 The name drupe (Gr. druppa = over-ripe olive) is given to 

 fruits of this kind. 



Compare the above with the fruits of the Blackberry 

 (tig- I 53) and Raspberry. Each of these consists of many 

 small drupes or drupels, borne on an upgrowth from the 

 centre of the receptacle. 



