420 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



Legumes may be not only indehiscent but fleshy, as in Cassia 

 fistula. 



A Nut is an achene-like fruit, the pericarp of which is more 

 or less indurated. Nuts are sometimes subtended (as in acorns) 

 or enclosed (as in chestnuts) by a kind of involucre, forming 

 what is technically known as a cupule ; and a fruit consisting of a 

 nut and cupule is known as a Glans. The achene-like fruit of 

 the Labiatae is spoken of as a Nutlet. 



A Pepo is an inferior berry, in which the placentas have 

 become developed into succulent layers, as in the watermelon, 

 cucumber, and colocynth. 



A Pod is a general term used to designate all dry, dehiscent, 

 apocarpous, or syncarpous fruits, as capsules, follicles, and 

 legumes. 



A Pome is an indehiscent, half-inferior, fleshy, syncarpous 

 fruit, as in the apple. The carpels constitute the core, and the 

 fleshy part is developed from the torus. 



A Samara is a winged, achene-like fruit. The winged ap- 

 pendage may be at the apex, as in white ash, or around the edge, as 

 in elm. Two samaras may be united into one fruit, which is called 

 a " double samara," as in maple. 



A Silique is a narrow, elongated, 2-valved capsule which is 

 separated by the formation of a false dissepiment into 2 locules, as 

 in the Cruciferse (Fig. 236, A). 



A Sorosis is a fleshy fruit resulting from the aggregation 

 of the carpels of several flowers, as in mulberry (Fig. 236, H) 

 and pineapple. 



A Strobile or cone is a scaly fruit, at the base of each scale 

 of which there is either a seed, as in the Pinacece, or an achene-like 

 body, as in hop. 



A Syconium consists of a succulent hollow torus, which en- 

 closes a number of achene-like bodies, as in the fig (Ficus). 



An Utricle is an inferior achene with a thin and loose pericarp, 

 as in Cheno podium. 



Classification of Fruits. — ]\Iore or less artificial classifications 

 of fruits have been made. They may be grouped either according 

 to structure or according to their manner of protection or dispersal, 

 the following classification being based on the structure : 



