194 COMPOUND ORGANS OP PLANTS. 



Fig. 91. 





Fig. 91. Fruit of strawberry, (Fragaria vesca,) showing the carpels or achenia on the 

 surface of its enlarged and fleshy receptacle. Each achenium has a style and stigma, 

 and is thus at once distinguished from a seed. The calyx is seen at the base of the 

 receptacle. 



cellulo- vascular bed of fibres and parenchyma. The exterior 

 membrane of the pericarp is called the epicarp, (Itti upon, 

 xaprtof fruit,) and corresponds to the lower epidermis of the 

 leaf. This membrane is ordinarily very thin, and is easily 

 removed, especially in succulent fruits, such as the peach or 

 plum. The interior membrane of the pericarp immediately 

 surrounding the seed, is called the endocarp, (tvdov within,) 

 and is equivalent to the upper epidermis of the leaf. It is 

 usually thin and membranaceous, and sometimes appears like 

 parchment, as in the pea and apple. In the peach and plum 

 it takes a ligneous consistence, and forms the stone or puta- 

 men, (putamen a shell,) immediately investing the kernel or 

 seed of these fruits. The intermediate tissue of the pericarp 

 between the epicarp and the endocarp, which represents the 

 parenchyma of the leaf, is called the mesocarp, (ptaos middle.) 

 The mesocarp is more or less succulent, according to the pro- 

 portionate development of its two constituents, fibres and 

 parenchyma. It is very much developed in fleshy fruits, 

 forming their flesh or pulp, as in the peach and plum, and 

 hence it has been sometimes called the sarcocarp, (<yapf flesh.) 



