ILLUSTRATED TERMS. 



17 



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A Drupe is a stone fruit ; such as a peach or cherry. In 

 ripening the outer part of the ovary becomes soft like a berry, 

 and the inner part hardens. This formation is the outcome of 

 a special construction of the pistil. 



In Dry Fruits the seed vessel hardens, remains herbaceous, 

 or it is membranous in texture. The following are those that 

 are commonly found on trees : — 



A Nut is a dry, usually one-seeded fruit. It is held by an 

 involucre of various forms ; such as a cup at the base of the 

 acorn and a burr around the chestnut. 



A Samara or Key Fruit is one-seeded, and is furnished 

 with a membranous wing. (Fuis. 51 and 52.) 



A Capsule or Pod is a dry, many-seeded fruit, which bursts 

 open in one piece when ripe and scatters its seeds. (Fig. 53.) 



A Legume is a simple pod which opens into two pieces. 

 The pea family bear legumes. (Fig. 54.) 



A Strobile or Cone consists of a number of flat bracts, 

 which grow closely and overlap each other forming a head or 

 spike and subtend pistils. (Fig. 55.) 



Seeds are the ripened ovules which contain within them the 

 new plant, or the embryo. 



They are composed, although found in many different forms, 

 of an outer and inner seed coat and the kernel or nucleus. 



The outer coat is frequently hard and shell-like : the inner 

 one is membranous and delicate. 



The Kernel or Nucleus is the part within the coats : the 

 embryo alone, or the embryo and the nourishing matter by 

 which it is surrounded. This latter is called Endosperm. 



The Embryo is the germ, or the rudimentary plantlet 

 within the seed. (Plate I.) 



The Hypocotyl is the stemlet of the embryo, and from the 

 base of which springs the young root. (Plate I.) 



The Cotyledons or Seed Leaves are the first two leaves 

 of a plant, and are usually completely formed in the embryo. 

 (Plate I.) In accordance with the number of leaves that first 



