THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PHANEROGAMIC FRUIT. 



73 



entiation of the living plant the excavated receptacle is not the result of any 

 actual hollow ing-out process as in the lump of wax, but is due to unequal 

 growth of the different parts of the receptacle — the peripheral parts growing up 

 as a circular wall around the central parts, so that the form of a cup or urn 

 is gradually assumed. When one speaks of the excavation of the receptacle one 

 is speaking figuratively — there is no excavation in a literal sense. 



The configuration of the receptacle is further complicated by the fact that 



Fig. 207.— Structure of Phanerogamic Ovaries. 



t Dehisced fruit of Miltonia stellata. 2 Ovary of Miitonia cut across transversely. 3 Ovary of Mignonette (Resrda) cut across 

 transversely. * The same ovary intact, s Longitudinal section of the ovary of the Jerusalem Artichoke {IJelianthus 

 tuberosus). « Ovary of the Violet ( Viola odorata). ' The same, cut across. « Receptacle and carpels of Myosurus mini- 

 mus. 1 The same in longitudinal section. i» Young fruit of Potato (Solanum tuberosum). » The same cut transversely. 

 All the figures considerably magnified. 



the centre of the receptacle does not always cease growing, but grows up as a 

 cushion or peg; thus we have a receptacle having the form of a conical peg 

 with a peripheral, urn-like wall around it. 



In describing the relations of the floral-leaves to the receptacle it will be 

 simplest to commence with the conical receptacle. Here the floral-leaves are 

 found arranged in whorls above one another or in a continuous spiral. At the 

 top are the carpels, below these the stamens, and below these again the leaves 



