154 



MORPHOLOGY 



and the jug-shaped body of the former is the exca- 

 vated axis of an inflorescence, while the jug-shaped 

 body of the latter is the excavated thalamus of a single 

 flower. The fruits of Coniferce (Pines), consisting of 

 an axis on which are inserted hard thickened carpel- 

 lary leaves and scales, are collective fruits usually of 

 a conical shape, and are therefore known as cones 



(fig. 136). 



The size and structure of 

 the ovary usually undergo 

 considerable changes during 

 its transformation into a fruit. 

 Thus, a small ovary may 

 give rise to a big fruit, as 

 lau, kumrha, tarmuz, bael, 

 Cocoa-nut, Papaw, &c. The 

 number of cells in an ovary 

 and the number of seeds in 

 each cell are often reduced 

 during this transformation. 

 For example. Cocoa-nut has 

 a 3 -celled ovary but a 

 I -celled fruit. On the other 

 hand, the number of cells in 

 an ovary may be increased 

 during the transformation, as in Datura, which has a 

 2-celled ovary but a 4-celled fruit, the number of cells 

 being doubled by the growth of spurious dissepi- 

 ments. In Mustard a i-celled ovary is rendered into 

 a 2-celled fruit in the same way. 



The wall of the ovary is termed pericarp in the 

 fruit. It may be thin and membranous, or thick and 

 woody, or thick and fleshy. When thick it is usually 

 divided into an outer layer called epicarp and an 

 inner layer called endqcarp ; sometimes there is a 



Fig. 137. — Mang:o or Am (^Mang-ifera 

 itidica) 



e, Epicarp. ?«, Mesocarp. eUt Endo- 

 carp (stone). 



