FRUITS 



I6 5 



FIG. 229. 

 AKENES OF 

 BUTTERCUP. 



FIG. 230. AKENES 

 OF BUTTERCUP, 

 one in longitudi- 

 nal section. 



Pericarps. The simplest pericarp is a dry, one- 

 seeded, indehiscent body. It is known as an akene. A 

 head of akenes is shown in Fig. 229, and the 

 structure is explained in Fig. 

 230. Akenes may be seen in 

 buttercup, hepatica, anemone, 

 smartweed, buckwheat. 



A i-loculed pericarp which 

 dehisces along the front edge 

 (that is, the inner edge, next 

 the center of the flower) is a follicle. The fruit of the 

 larkspur (Fig. 231) is a follicle. There are usually five of 

 t these fruits (sometimes three or 

 four) in each larkspur flower, each 

 pistil ripening into a follicle. If 

 these pistils were united, a single 

 compound pistil would be formed. 

 Columbine, peony, ninebark, milk- 

 weed, also have follicles. 



A i-loculed pericarp that de- 

 hisces on both edges is a legume. 

 Peas and beans are typical exam- 

 ples (Fig. 232); in fact, this character gives 

 name to the pea family, Leguminosae. 

 Often the valves of the 

 legume twist forcibly and 

 expel the seeds, throwing 

 them some distance. The 

 word " pod " is sometimes restricted to 



legumes, but it is better to use it generi- 

 FIG. 233. CAPSULE OF . 



CASTOR -OIL BEAN cally for all dehiscent pericarps. 



AFTER DEHISCENCE. A compound pod dehiscing peri- 

 carp of two or more carpels is a capsule (Figs. 233, 234, 



FIG. 231. 

 FOLLICLE 

 OF LARK- 

 SPUR. 



FIG. 232. A 

 BEAN POD. 



