32 8 STUDIES IN SEEDS AND FRUITS 



SUMMARY 



(i) This chapter deals with the weight-relations between the peri- 

 carp (fruit-case) and the seeds in the different stages of a fruit's history, 

 and it involves a special inquiry into the drying of the mature fruit. 



(2) After pointing out that for purposes of comparison the fruit 

 in the moist living condition is far more important than in the dried 

 dead state, the author illustrates his method of investigation by taking 

 the fruit of Barringtonia speciosa (p. 294). 



(3) The relative weights of pericarp and seeds in sixty-four 

 mature fruits before drying begins are then discussed, and the results of 

 the author's observations are tabulated (p. 297) 



(4) With regard to the influence of the type of fruit on this 

 relation, it appears that fruits possessing the greatest proportion of 

 pericarp, that is to say, where the weight of the fruit-case is more 

 than 90 per cent, of that of the whole fruit, are either berries or 

 drupes (p. 299), 



(5) In determining the weight-relation, " size " counts for little 

 with drupes and berries. Thus about 2000 drupes of Prunus communis 

 (Sloe) make up the weight of a single green fruit of the Coco-nut Palm, 

 and nearly 5000 Elder berries [Sambucus nigra) are required to weigh 

 down an average fruit of the Shaddock [Citrus decumana). Yet the 

 proportions of pericarp and seeds are much the same in the two cases. 

 With legumes the largest and heaviest fruits have the smallest seed- 

 weight, a rule usually but not always applicable to capsules also (p. 300). 



(6) The history of the weight-relations between the fruit-case 

 and the seeds in different stages of the fruit's development is then 

 dealt with, and it opens up a study of the growing, ripening, and 

 drying fruit (p. 301). 



(7) It is observed that whilst in the younger fruits the growth of 

 the fruit-case is far in advance of that of the seeds, both fruit-case and 

 seeds usually reach maturity about the same time. 



(8) Yet there are fruits where seeds continue their growth after 

 the fruit-case has begun to dry. This is exemplified in the fruits of 

 the Coco-nut Palm [Cocos nucifera\ of the Oak [Quercus Robur)^ and 

 probably also of Barringtonia speciosa. The cases of the two first- 

 named are discussed with much detail, the results largely of the 

 indications of the balance. That of the coco-nut, which was studied 

 by the author in the West Indies, is first dealt with, and it is shown 

 that the seed grows markedly whilst the husk is drying. That of the 

 acorns of the Oak, which was investigated by the author in Devonshire, 

 is treated at length, and it is established that the seed of the acorn 

 continues its growth after the shell has begun to dry (pp. 301-314). 



