DEHISCENT FRUITS 91 



The siliqua is typically pod-like in shape, 

 but a short broad form is often distinguished 

 as a Silicula (e.g. Shepherd's Purse), 

 (iii.) Two or more carpels = Capsule. 



{a) Usually a dry dehiscent fruit formed by more 

 than two combined carpels, dehisces longi- 

 tudinally, and causes the pericarp to split into 

 a number of valves. The splits may descend 

 from the apex to the base of the fruit, or they 

 may be merely confined to the upper part, in 

 which case the separate valves are tooth-like 

 {e.g. Cerastium, Primrose). Longitudinally 

 dehiscing capsules are of four kinds. 

 (a) Splitting along the ventral sutures. 

 (P) Splitting along the dorsal sutures 

 {e.g. Violet, fig. 158; Iris, -fig. 

 122). 

 (•y) Splitting along the ventral sutures, and 

 separating from the partition walls of 

 the capsule so as to leave the seeds 

 attached to a middle axial column {e.g. 

 Foxglove, fig. 123). 

 (8) Splitting for a certain distance along 

 both dorsal and ventral sutures, so 

 that there are twice as many valves as 

 there are carpels (especially in capsules 

 with tooth - like dehiscence) {e.g. 

 Stellaria media, fig. 124). 

 {b) Capsule with transverse dehiscence. The top of 

 the capsule separates like a lid {e.g. Poor-man's 

 Weather-glass, fig. 125). 

 {c) Capsule opening by a number of little holes or 



pores in the pericarp {e.g. Poppy, fig. 126). 

 {d) Capsule opening irregularly. 



B. FLESHY (Dehiscent). 



Some follicles are soft and green when they dehisce. The 

 green succulent capsules of the Balsam open violently, and fling 

 their seeds to some distance. The capsule of the Woodsorrel 

 has a soft pericarp, which splits open and allows the seeds to 



