156 



F E U I T S 





the axils of the scales of the young cone, and they have 

 neither style nor stigma. The pollen falls directly on the 

 mouth of the ovule. The ovule ripens into a seed (Fig. 

 270) which is usually winged. Because the 

 ovule is not borne in a sac or ovary, these 

 plants are called gymnosperms 

 (Greek for "naked seeds"). 

 All the true cone-bearing plants 

 are of this class; also certain 

 other plants as red cedar, juni- '//; 

 per, yew. The plants are monce- J 

 cious or sometimes dioecious. 

 The staminate flowers are mere 

 naked stamens borne beneath 

 scales, in small yellow catkins 

 which soon fall. The pistillate 

 flowers are naked ovules beneath 

 scales on cones which persist 

 (Figs. 271, 272). 





271. Pistillate cone 

 of Norway spruce. 

 This tree is one of 

 the commonest of 

 planted ever- 

 greens. 



272. Pistillate 

 cone of white 

 pine. 



Eeview. What is a fruit, as understood by the botanist ? What 

 is a locule ? What are simple, compound, and accessory or reinforced 

 fruits ? Define pericarp. Pod. What are dehiscent and indehiscent 

 fruits? What is a samara or key-fruit? Define akene. Follicle. 

 Legume. Capsule. Explain septicidal and loculicidal dehiscence. 

 Apical dehiscence. Basal deniscence. What is a pyxis ? Silique ? 

 Silicle ? Berry ? Drupe ? Drupelet ? Explain an aggregate fruit. 

 Explain the fruit of strawberry, rose, apple, squash. What is the 

 fruit of pines and spruces? 



Note. Fully mature fruits are best for study, particularly if it is 

 desired to see dehiscence. For comparison, pistils and partially 

 grown fruits should be had at the same time. If the fruits are not 

 ripe enough to dehisce, they may be placed in the sun to dry. In the 

 school it is well to have a collection of fruits for study. The speci- 

 mens may be kept in glass jars. 



The following diagram will aid the pupil to remember some of 

 the fruits to which particular names have been given. He must be 

 warned, however, that the diagram does not express the order of evo- 

 lution of the various kinds. He should also remember that there are 



