206 COMPOUND ORGANS OF PLANTS. 



Fig. 101. 



Fig. 101. The Siliqua of the Wall Flower (Cheiranthus cheiri) opening by two ralrcs 

 from the base upwards. The two placentas bearing the seeds on their surface, remain 

 in tb middle of the fruit, with a replum between them. 



pores. It is easy to imagine from this, that the forms of the 

 capsule will be exceedingly variable. The porous capsule is 

 seen in the poppy, which is a seed vessel of a woody texture, 

 proceeding from a compound ovary, and dehiscing by chinks 

 which may be seen in the dry fruit, "just beneath the over- 

 hanging surface of its numerous radiating stigmas. Two other 

 varieties of the capsule are worthy of a particular notice. 



4. The Siliqua (siliqua a husk or pod.) This is a pod- 

 shaped capsule, the peculiar fruit of Cruciferous plants, com- 

 posed of two carpels which open as valves from below, upwards. 

 The parietal placenta, before the period of dehiscence, having 

 been united together by a plate of cellular matter termed the 

 replum, which forms a false septum across the cavity of the 

 ruit, separate from the valves, when these open and remain 



