46 FRUIT. 



247. Although the ovarium may be two or three - 

 celled, it does not always follow that in the ripened 

 state of it, or fruit, it should still continue so, for by 

 abortion, etc., a three- celled ovarium may become a one- 

 celled pericarp, as in the Cocoa-nut. 



248. When the fruit becomes ripe, the pericarp 

 either opens spontaneously to allow of the exit of the 

 seed, as in the Bean ; or it remains closed, as in the 

 Apple : in the former case it is said to be dehiscent, in 

 the latter, indehiscent. 



249. In dehiscence, of course, portions of the pericarp 

 must separate from each other ; such places of separa- 

 tion are termed valves. 



250. In those pericarps formed from a single carpel- 

 lary leaf, as that of the Bean, the valves separate from 

 sutures ; such is called sutural dehiscence. 



251. The dehiscence is said to be septicidal when it 

 takes place by a separation of the dissepiments from 

 each other, as in a Rhododendron. 



252. Loculicidal, when it takes place by the opening 

 of the back of the cells, as in a Lily. 



.253. Septifragal, when it occurs from the dissepi- 

 ments separating from the valves, as in a Convolvulus. 



254. Circumcissile, or tran verse, when the separation 

 takes place by the cells dividing tranversely or across, 

 as in the common Pimpernel. 



255. In a few cases the dehiscence is very irregular, 

 the portions of the pericarp separating bearing no me- 

 thodical relationship to the cells of the fruit ; such is 

 seen in the Snap-dragon and Bird's-foot Trefoil : the first 

 dehisces by rupturing, the other by solubility ; the one- 

 celled pericarp of the latter dividing into distinct and 

 separately closed portions. 



256. The different appearances which the pericarp 

 assumes as regards form and texture, give rise to the 

 various kinds of fruits which are seen. 



257. Fruits have been very variously classified by 

 authors, but most of their systems are essentially un- 

 philosophical, because the structure of the primal origin 



