108 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



teetli as there are placentas in the ovary. To each tooth corresponds 

 a groove, radiating- to it from the centre of the upper surface, with 

 its lips lined by stigmatic tissue. These lines correspond with the 



Papaver somnifervm (nigrum). 



^^S? 



Fig. 115. 

 Seed ( 2 T ° ). 



Fig. 114 

 Fruit. 



Fig. 116. 

 Long. sect, of seed. 



placentas. The latter, of very inconstant number, project inside the 

 cell to a variable distance (often very slight) from the centre. Hence 

 each forms an incomplete false septum, with both its faces covered 

 wholly or partially 1 with a quantity of little anatropous ovules. 2 

 The fruit (figs. 114, 118) is dry and capsular ; it usually opens 3 near 

 the top, under the base of the style, by the depression of very short 

 valves, corresponding with the spaces between the placentas. 4 

 Through these false pores escape a large number of little bowed 

 seeds (figs. 115, 110, 1:2:2, 123), reticulate or scrobiculate on the 

 surface, and containing in the upper part of the very copious oily 

 fleshy albumen a little straight or bowed embryo. 



The little valves of dehiscence do not separate so far from the 



1 In this case the ovules occupy the lower and 

 outer part of the placentas. 



- They have two coats. 



3 In P. somniferum, var. album (fig. 118), the 

 lines of dehiscence are marked, but no separation 

 takes place. 



4 After dehiscence the discoid part of the style 

 is supported by as many short -columns as there 

 are placentas, separated by the triangular open- 

 ings through which the seeds pass. 



