FRUIT. 



79 



205 

 Nut and Cupale. 



That they are not seeds is phiin from the way they are produced, and from their 

 bearing a style or stigma, at least Avhen young. They are evidently pistils ripened ; 

 and on cutting them open, the seed is found whole within (Fig. 204). 



230. A Grain (or Caryopsis) is the same as an akene, except that the thin seed- 

 vessel adheres firmly to the whole surface of the seed. Indian corn, 



wheat, rye, and all such kinds of grain are examples. 



231. A Nut is a hard-shelled, one-seeded, indehiscent fruit, like an 

 akene, but on a larger scale. Beechnuts, chestnuts, and acorns (Fig. 

 205) are familiar examples. In all these the nut is surrounded by 

 a kind of involucre, called a Cupide or Cup^ which, however, is no 

 part of the fruit. In the Oak, the cupule is a scaly cup ; in the 

 Beech and Chestnut, it is a kind of bur ; in the Hazel, it is a leaf-like 

 cup or covering ; in Hop- Hornbeam, it is a thin and closed bag. 

 The fruit of the AValnut, Butternut, and the likr-, is between a drupe 

 and a nut, having a fleshy outer layer. 



232. A Key or Key-Fruit (called by botanists a Samara) is like an akene or nut, 

 or any other indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, only it is winged. The 

 fruits of the Ash (Fig. 206) and of the Elm (Fig. 207) are of this 

 kind. That of the Maple consists of two keys partly joined at the base, 

 both from one flower (Fig. 208). 



233. Dehiscent Fruits, or dry fruits which split or burst open in some 

 regular way, take the general name of 



234. Pods. These generally split lengthwise when ripe and dry. 

 Pods formed of a simple pistil mostly open down 

 their inner edge, namely, that 

 which answers to the united mar- 

 gins of the pistil-leaf. Comjiare 

 Fig. 160 with Fig. 209 : the latter 

 is the simple pod of a Marsh- 

 Marigold open after ripening, and 

 the seeds fallen, so becoming a 

 leaf again, as it were. Some such 

 pods also split down the back as 

 well as down the inner side ; that 



is, along what answers to the midrib of the leaf; as do pea-pods (Fig. 211). 



6 



i 



20S 

 Pair of ICeys. 



209 

 Opened Follicle. 



