394 



NATURAL mSTORT OF PLANTS. 



in a stigmatiferous liead. Within tlie ovary, close to the base of 

 this angle, is seen a placenta, bearing two nearly erect anatropous 

 ovules, placed side by side, with their micropyles downwards and 

 outwards (fig. 45S).' The fruit is a dru])e, at the top of which is the 

 so-called " eye," a depression formed by the original opening of the 

 receptacular sac, usually surrounded by the persistent calyx, and 

 sometimes also by the withered petals and stamens (fig. 4()0). 

 In the centre of tlie very tliick Heshy mesocarp the endocarp forms 

 from two to five nuts, separated from each other by bands of the 

 fleshy tissue, but free towards the axis, and usually suiTounding a 

 central space. Their walls are not very thick, and of scarious or 



Pijrtis Aria {White Beam). 



])archmcnt-like consistency. Each contains one or two ascending 

 seeds, with fleshy exalbuminous embryos ; the radicle is inferior. 



The Apples- (Fr., Pomviicru) were at first distinguished from the 

 Pears, because their styles are not free at the base, but cohere into 

 a column for some way up. The Service-trees' (Fr., Sordicrff) have 

 been separated because their endocarp is membranous and fragile, 

 and the number of carpels is usually less than five. But these cha- 

 racters, by no means (-onstant and ol' altogether secondary value, have 



' Tlio uiicropylc \h often covered liy a more or (let Sc. JVH/.,t.242. — Si-Atii, *'mi7.<i Bnff.,\\. l:t3. 



leHH jiroinincnt obturutor. Tito ovule Iuik two » Surhtia '\\, lintit.,(i'XS. — L., Urn., wAVl'A. — 



i-iwU. Si-ACll, op. fit., HI. — Aucuixiria Mkdik., ci 



^ Mulim T., //ijt/,7.,(;:3J. t. lUG.— li 111'., Did. Kndi... hw. cH., f.— Connus Si-acii, .'/>. cil. IK!. 



