FRUIT. 63 



arranged in an irregular manner on the backs of the cells, and 

 is formed by more whorls of carpels than one, enclosed within 

 a tough rind ; Ex. Pomegranate 271 . 



527. The most remarkable modifications of multiple or 

 anthocarpous fruits are, the Cone (528), Pine-apple (529), 

 and Fig (530). 



528. The Cone A B is an indurated amentum (305) ; Ex. 

 Pinus. When it is much reduced in size, and its scales firmly 

 cohere, it is called a Galbulus ; Ex. Thuja. 



529. The Pine-apple is a spike of inferior flowers, which 

 all grow together into a fleshy mass. 



530. The Fig is the fleshy, hollow, dilated apex of a 

 peduncle, within which a number of flowers are arranged, 

 each of which contains an achenium ; Ex. Ficus, Dorstenia 275 . 



Of the terms above explained only a few are in common use, and it seenis to 

 be found by systematic botanists more convenient to describe a given fruit by 

 exact words than to use any particular term. The names most employed are 

 the Achenium, Nut, Caryopsis, Drupe, Capsule, Siliqua, Legume, and Cone. 



XVII. SEED. 



531. The SEED is the ovule (406) arrived at maturity. 



532. It consists of integuments (540), albumen (551), and 

 embryo (555) ; and is the result of the reciprocal action of 

 the sexual apparatus. 



533. In general, seeds are, like ovules, enclosed within a 

 covering arising from a carpellary leaf (406) ; but all Gym- 

 nosperms are an exception to this. Moreover, some ovules 

 rupture the ovary soon after they begin to advance towards 

 the state of seed, and thus become naked seeds ; Ex. Leontice. 

 Others are imperfectly protected by the ovary, the carpels 

 not being perfectly closed up ; Ex. Reseda. 



534. The seed proceeds from the placenta (412), to which 

 it is attached by the funiculus 280 , which is sometimes very 

 long, but is more frequently not distinguishable from the 

 placenta. 



535. Sometimes the funiculus, or the placenta, expands 

 about the seed into a fleshy body ; Ex. the Mace of a nut- 

 meg, Euonymus. This expansion is named aril* 76 281 283 . 



536. It is never developed until after the vivification of the 

 ovule, and must not be confounded with tumours or dilata- 

 tions of the integument of the seed. 



