STRUCTURE OF FRUITS 219 



Lemon are superior. The Pomegranate is peculiar in that 

 the edible part consists of the succulent testas of the seeds. 



The Apple and the Pear, as is the case with the Rose and 

 the Strawberry already examined, are fruits in which the 

 receptacle takes part in their formation ; and they are 

 sometimes called false fruits or pseudocarps. In the 

 Apple (Fig. 155) the core is formed from the pistil, and the 

 pips are the seeds, while the fleshy part is formed from the 

 receptacle. Such a fruit is called a pome. 



The Fig is a compound fruit consisting of a hollow inflo- 

 rescence, within which are numerous small drupes. The 

 Pine-apple is also a fleshy inflorescence, the axis of which is 

 continued above and bears leaves. The Mulberry is formed 

 from a spike of many flowers ; the perianth-leaves of each 

 become united and fleshy, and enclose the ovary, thus 

 resembling the Blackberry in appearance but differing 

 widely from it in origin. 



The modifications found in fruits have, in most cases, 

 an obvious connexion with the dispersal of seeds, the 

 various devices for which we will next consider. 



CHAPTER XVII 



DISPERSAL OF FRUITS AND SEEDS 



Prior to August 1883, Krakatau, one of the East Indian 

 Islands, was covered with impenetrable forests. On 

 August 26 and 27 of that year, a violent volcanic eruption 

 occurred ; the topography of the island was completely 

 changed ; and the lava and molten ashes which fell upon 

 the remaining portions completely destroyed the vegetation. 

 This provided a rare opportunity of studying the ways 



