200 



COMPOUND ORGANS OF PLANTS. 

 Fig. 96. Fig. 97. 



Fig. 97. Dehiscence of the three-celled fruit of the Martagon lily, showing the dis- 

 sepiments in the middle of the valves. 



however, the placenta and ovules remain firmly attached 

 together, so that the dissepiments or united laminae of the 

 several carpellary leaves separate from their margins instead 

 of midrib, which margins remain united and persistent in the 

 centre of he pericarp, forming a sort of central axis or colu- 

 mella, as in the morning-glory (Convolvulus). Lastly, not only 

 the margin but a part of the laminae may be persistent about 

 the central axis, so that when the pericarp opens at the parie- 

 tal suture, the central column presents as many walls attached 

 to it as there were dissepiments in the ovary before its dehis- 

 cence. * We call this variety of loculicidal dehiscence, septifra- 

 gal (septum and/rango I break). 



The sutures or seams of the pericarp, instead of dehiscing or 

 splitting through their entire length, are sometimes only rup- 

 tured for a short distance from the apex as in the chickweeds, 



