122 



FRUIT. 



[SECTION 14. 



seeded, witli a hard, crust aceous, or bony wall, sucli as the cocoauut, liazel- 

 nut, chestnut, and the acorn (Fig. 37, 388.) Here the 

 involucre, in the form of a cup at the base, is called the 

 CUPULE. In the Chestnut the cupulc forms the bur ; in 

 the Hazel, a leafy husk. 



365. A Samara, or Key-fruit, is either a nut or an 

 akene, or any other iudchisceut fruit, furnished witli a wing, 

 like that of Ash (Fig. 389), and Elm (Fig. 390). The 

 Maple-fruit is a pair of keys (F'ig. 391). 



366. Dehiscent Fruits, or Pods, are of two classes, viz., 

 those of a simple pistil or carpel, and those of a compound 



pistil. Two common sorts of the first are named as follows : — 



367. The Follicle is a fruit of a simple carpel, which dehisces down one 

 side only, i. e. by the inner or ventral suture. The 

 fruits of Marsh Marigold (Fig. 392), Pseony, Larkspur, 

 and Milkweed are of this kind. 



368. The Legume or true Pod, such as the peapod 

 (Tig. 393), and the fruit of the Leguminous or Pulse 

 family generally, is one which opens along the dorsal as 



well as the ventral suture. The two pieces 



into which it splits are called Valves. A Lomext is a legume which is 

 constricted between the seeds, and at length breaks up crosswise into dis- 

 tinct joints, as in Fig. 39i. 



369. The pods or dehiscent fruits belonging to a compound ovary have 

 several technical names : but they all may be regarded as kinds of 



370. The Capsule, the dry and dehiscent fruit of any compound pistil. 

 The capsule m.ay discharge its seeds through chinks or pores, as in the 



Fig. 388. Nut (acorn) of the Oak, with its cup or cupule. 



Fig. 389. Samara or key of the White Ash, winged at end. 390. 

 the American Elm, winged all round. 



Fig. 391. Pair of samaras of Sugar Maple. 



Fig. 392. Follicle of Marsh Marigold (Caltha paliistris). 



Fig. 393. Legume of a Sweet Pea, opeiu'd. 



Fig- 394. Loment or jointed legume ol a Tick-Trefoil (Desmodiiun). 



