MORPHOLOGY OF THE FRUIT AND SEED 203 



2. The Si/rotuis is a collective fruit, formed of an enlarged 

 and more or less succulent receptacle which bears a number 

 of separate flowers. The Fig (fig. 575) is an example of a 

 syconus. In this, the flowers are almost entirely enclosed 

 by the enlarged hollow pear-shaped receptacle, and what are 

 commonly called seeds are in reality one-seeded fruits resem- 

 bling achsenia. Dorstenia (fig. 576) supplies another example 

 of the syconus, although it differs a good deal from that of the 



FlC4. 575. 



KiG. 576. 



Fig. 575. Syconus of the Fig (Ficm 

 C'lirica)^ showing pear-shaped iieshy 

 receptacle bearing achenes on its inner 



surface. Ficf. 576. Syconus of a 



3 of Dorstenia. 



Fig in its general appearance ; the receptacle is less succulent, 

 and only slightly concave except at its margins, so that the 

 separate fruits are here readily observed. 



The Seed. 



We have seen that the seed is a structure which is pecu- 

 liar to the group of Phanerogams or flowering plants, and have 

 discussed the causes which lead to its formation. ' There are 

 several morphological features of importance connected with it 

 which still remain for us to consider. As the seed is the body 

 produced from the ovule in consequence of fertihsation, we see 

 that its structure must be comparable with that of the latter. 

 It is, however, much more complex because it contains the 

 whole of the gametophyte of the plant, together with the new 

 sporophyte to which the latter gives origin. The latter is the 



