INTBODTJCTION. 21 



usually inserted as in perigynous flowers ; when the corolla is gamopetalous, 

 the stamens are often combined at the base with the tube of the corolla, or, 

 as it is more frequently expressed, inserted in the tube. 



When the receptacle is distinctly elongated below the ovary, it is often 

 called a gynobasis or stalk of the ovary. If the elongation takes place below 

 the stamens or below the petals, these stamens or petals are then said to be 

 inserted on the stalk of the ovary, and are occasionaUy, but falsely, described 

 as epiyynous. Really epigyuous stamens (i. e. when the filaments are com- 

 bined with the ovary) are very rare, unless the rest of the flower is epi- 

 gynous. 



An epigynous disk is a name given either to the tliickened summit of the 

 ovary in epigynous flowers, or veiy rarely to a real disk or enlargement of 

 the receptacle closing over the ovaiy. 



§ 13. The Fruit. 



The Pruit consists of the ovary and whatever other parts of the flower 

 persist at the time the seed is ripe, usually enlarged, and naore or less altered 

 in shape and consistence. It encloses or covers the seed or seeds till tlie 

 period of maturity, when it either opens for the seed to escape or falls to 

 the ground with the seed. 



Fruits are, in elementary works, said to be simple when the result of a 

 smgle flower, compound when they proceed from several flowers closely 

 packed or combined in a head. This terminology, if generally used, might 

 lead to some confusion, for the fruit resulting from a single flower with several 

 distinct carpels, is compound ui the sense in which that term is apphed to 

 the ovary. But in descriptive botany a fruit is always supposed to result 

 from a single flower unless the contrary be stated. 



In compound fruits (the result of several flowers) the involucre or bracts 

 often persist and form part of the fruit, but veiy seldom so in single fruits. 



The adherent part of the calyx of epigynous flowers always persists and 

 forms part of the fruit ; the free part of the calyx of epigynous flowers, or 

 the calyx of perigynous flowers, either persists entirely at the top of the fruit, 

 or the lobes alone fall off, or the lobes faU ofi" with whatever part of the ttibe 

 is above the insertion of the jjetals, or the whole of what is free from the ovary, 

 including the disk bearing the petals. The calyx of hypogynous flowers 

 usually falls off entirely or persists entirely. In general a calyx is called 

 deciduous if any part falls off'. When it persists it is either enlarged round 

 or under the fruit, or it withers and ch'ies up. 



The coroUa usually falls off entirely; when it persists it is usually withered 

 and dry, or very seldom enlarges roimd the fruit. 



The stamens either fall off, or more or less of their filaments persist, usually 

 withered and dry. 



The style and stigma sometimes fall off, or dry iip and disappear, some- 

 times persist, forming a point to the fruit ; sometimes become enlarged into 

 a wing or other appendage to the fruit. 



The pericarp is the portion of the fruit formed of the ovary, and whatever 

 adheres to it exclusive of and outside of the seed or seeds, exclusive also of 

 tlie persistent receptacle, or of whatever portion of the calyx persists round 

 the ovary without adlieving to it. 



Fruits are generaUy divided into succulent (including fleshy, pulpy, and 

 juicy fi-uite) and dry. 



They are 



dehiscent, when they open at maturity to let out the seeds. 



