260 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
THE CARPELS. 
At blooming time the carpels are very slightly imbedded in the 
tissue of the torus (fig. 17). There is a very short calyx tube, how- 
ever, shown in the figure below the attachment of the anther. As 
the fruit matures, the calyx tube lengthens proportionately more 
than the carpels, and this gives the fruit the appearance of being half 
buried in the torus (fig. 38). A longitudinal section (fig. 39) shows 
that this is only apparent and that the fruit is only slightly buried. 
The substance of the carpels develops into two tissues, the outer 
one becoming fleshy with numerous roundish stone cells, the inner one 
forming part of the mechanism for expelling the seed. In eac 
carpel this inner Jayer is formed in two halves, which are not closed 
at the top and are higher toward the posterior of each carpel, as 
shown in side view in fig. 42. These halves are never closely joined 
on the inner sides of the carpels, and there is provision for a split 
along the dorsal line also. The cells are developed into fibers diag- 
onally from the inner edge to the dorsal line of each carpel, parallel 
to the top of the layer. In opening, this layer splits down the midrib 
of the carpel and in front. It then opens at the top and each half 
below begins to contract in a transverse direction. The cros* 
section of the opening layer is shown before contraction in fig. 49% 
after the opening of the fruit in fig. gz. The pressure exerted comes 
gradually on the seed, and it is thrown out, not by a sudden move- 
ment of the capsule, as in many such contrivances, but by being 
pinched on the smooth pointed lower end. The great smoothness 
of the seed and of the inside of the capsule assists greatly in the proces 
The seeds are often thrown to a distance of twenty feet. This move- 
ment is caused by drying, as can be proved by placing an opened 
capsule in water, when after some hours it will close entirely, and 
will open again on being dried. 
, GERMINATION. 
The seed, thus distributed lies on the ground for two — 
according to Bartey (x), sprouting the second year. Under — 
which fruited abundantly in the fall of rgor, but where the crop 
a failure in 1900, it was not possible to find young seedlings ™ — 
1902, though many seeds were found. Under trees which fruite 
