FRUIT. 



(4) And now, last of all, I want you 

 to notice how the seeds become free 

 from the ovary case, or pericarp. 

 For when the pericarp opens so as to 

 let the seed escape, the fruits are 

 called dehiscent* If the seed case 

 splits open lengthways the parts 

 into which it splits are called " valves" 

 and the dehiscence is longitudinal ; 

 compare this in the iris, monk's hood 

 (Fig. 161), pea, or wallflower (cf. Fig. Brassica (//va). k 



3 the valves, 7<ydissepi- 



121). And notice the little teeth with ment, s seeds, g 



style, n stigma. 



which the seed case sometimes opens 



at the upper end, as in the primrose, cowslip, or the 



chickweed. 



If we can find a little pimpernel (poor man's 



weather glass) with its seed ripe, we shall see that its 

 seed case opens in another 

 way ; it splits across and the 

 top comes off. This is called 

 transverse dehiscence. (cf. Fig. 

 130.) But sometimes the 

 seed case opens with little 

 holes as in the poppy : these 

 openings are called pores, and 

 the dehiscence is porous. (Fig. 



\ 

 lzz 'f 



opening by pores. , stigma ; Sometimes, however, the 



y, the pores which open by 



the removal of the valves, a. pericarp does not open to let 



Fig. 122. Fruit (capsule} of 



* From the Latin " dehisco" " dehiscfns" gaping, opening. 



