206 PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 



The Follicle or pod is a dry, simple capsular fruit formed of a 

 single carpel which dehisces by one suture. This is usually the 

 ventral suture as in Aconite, Staphisagria, Larkspur and some other 

 Ranunculacece, but may be the dorsal suture as in Magnolia, 

 Fig. 99 (i). 



A Legume is a dry simple capsular fruit formed of a single carpel 

 and dehiscent by both ventral and dorsal sutures. Examples: Peas, 

 Beans, etc. The legume is typical of most Leguminosa, Fig. 99 (8). 



A Capsule is a fruit formed of two or more carpels which dehisce 

 longitudinally or by apical teeth or valves. Examples: Cardamon, 

 Poppy, Iris, etc., Fig. 99 (2 and 3). 



A Pyxis or Pyxidium is a capsular fruit formed of two or more 

 carpels that dehisce transversely. Examples: Hyoscyamus, Portu- 

 laca. The upper portion forms a lid which fits upon the lower pot- 

 like portion, Fig. 99 (4). 



A Regma is a capsular fruit of two or more carpels that first splits 

 into separate parts and then each of these dehisces. This type of 

 fruit is typical of Euro, crepitans (Sandbox), Pelargonium and 

 Geranium, Fig. 99 (5). 



A Siliqua is a long slender one or two-celled capsule, often with a 

 spurious membranous septum (when two-celled) and two persistent 

 parietal placentae, the valves opening from below upward. Ex- 

 amples: Chelidonium and Wallflower, Fig. 99 (6). 



A Silicule is a short siliqua in which the length is never much 

 greater than the breadth. Example: Cochlearia. Fig. 99 (7). 



II. Schizocarpic Fruits. A Carcerulus or Nutlet is the typical 

 fruit of the Labiatae but is also seen in the Borraginaceae. The ovary 

 that has become four-celled at the time of flowering matures into 

 four little pieces which split asunder lengthwise. Each split part 

 is composed of one-half of a ripened carpel, Fig. 100 (2). 



A Cremocarp is the characteristic splitting fruit of the 

 Umbelliferse family. It consists of two inferior akenes or 

 mericarps separated from each other by a forked stalk called a 

 carpophore. These mericarps usually cling to the forks of the 

 carpophore for a time after the cremocarp splits, but sooner or 

 later fall, Fig. 100 (i). 



