S8 CLASSIFICATION OF FRUITS. 



tacle, and has the seed fixed to it, all around. In one-celled cap- 

 sules this is wanting. (For the capsule, see Fig. 94.) 



2d. SiLiauE or Siliqva^ is a two-valved pericarp or pod, with the 

 seeds attached alternately to its opposite edge, as mustard and radish. 

 The proper silique is two-celled, being furnished with a partition 

 which runs the whole length of this kind of pericarp ; there are 

 some exceptions to this, as in the celandine. Silicle, (silicula, a 

 little pod,) is distinguished by being shorter than the silique, as in 

 the pepper-grass. This difference in the form of the sihque and 

 sihcle, is the foundation of the distinction in tlie orders of the class 

 Tetradynamia. 



3d. Legume is a pericarp of two valves, with the seeds attached 

 only to one suture^ or seam, as the pea. In this circumstance it dif- 

 fers from the silique, which has its seeds affixed to both sutures. The 

 word ]}od is used in common language for both these species of pe- 

 ricarp. Plants which produce the legume, are called leguminous. The 

 greater number of these plants are in the class DiadeJphia. The 

 tamarind is a legume filled with pulp, in which the seeds are lodged. 



4th. Follicle is a one-valved pericarp, which opens longitudinally 

 on one side, having its seed loose within it; that is, not bound to the 

 Buture. We have'^examples of this in the dog's-bane, (Apocynum,) 

 which has a double follicle, and in the milk-weed, (Asclepios.) 



5th. Drupe, (Fig. 101,) a stone fruit, is a kind of pericarp which 

 has no valve, and contains a nut or stone, within which there is a 

 kernel. The drupe is mostly a moist, succulent fruit, as in the plum, 

 cherry, and peach. The nut or stone within the drupe, is a kind of 

 woody cup, commonly containing a single kernel called the nucleus ; 

 the hard shell, thus enveloping the kernel, is called the putameiij the 

 stone of a cherry or peach, may furnish an example. 



6th. Nut, is a seed covered with a shell resembling the capsule in 

 some respects, and the drupe in others; as the walnut, chestnut, &c. 



7th. Pome, (Fig. 102,) is a pulpy pericarp without valves, but con- 

 taining a membranous capsule, with a number of cells v/hich con- 

 tain the seeds. This species of pericarp has no external opening or 

 valve. The apple, pear, quince, gourd, the cucumber and melon, 

 furnish us with examples of this kind of pericarp. With respect to 

 form, the pome is oblong, orate, globular, &c., the form of fruits be- 

 ing much varied by climate and soil. Every child knows that apples 

 are not uniform in their size or figure; with respect to the number 

 of cells also, the apple is variable. 



8th. Berry, (Fig. 104,) is a succulent, pulpy pericarp, without 

 valves, and containing naked seeds, or seeds with no other covering 

 than the pulp which surrounds them ; the seeds in the berry are 

 sometimes dispersed promiscuously through the pulpy substance, but 

 are more generally placed upon receptacles within the pulp. A com- 

 pound berry consists of several single berries, each containing a seed 

 united together ; as in the mulberry, (Fig. 108.) Each of the sepa- 

 rate parts is called an acinus, or grain. The orange and lemon are 

 berries with a thick coat. There are some kinds of berries, usually 

 so called, that, according to the botanical definition of a berry, seem 

 scarce entitled to the name ; for the pulp is not properly a part of 

 the fruit, but originates from some other organ. In the mulberry, the 

 calyx becomes coloured and very juicy, surrounded by seeds like a 

 real berry. What is commonly called the berry in the strawberry, 

 is but a pulpy receptacle studded with naked seeds. In the fig, the 



Silique— Legume— Follicle — Drupe— NiH— Pome— Berry — Compound Lcrry — Aci 

 nus— Orange and lemon— Mulberry. 



