MORPHOLOGY OF ANGIOSPERMS. 



147 



and from tlie fact that it is sometimes succulent or fleshy, as in 

 the prune, it is also called the sarcocarp. 



There are a number of distinctive and descriptive names ap- 

 plied to fruits. Some of the more important are as follows : 



An Akene is a non-fleshy, or so-called dry, unilocular and 

 one-seeded, indehiscent fruit, in which the pericarp is more or less 

 firm, and may or may not be united with the seed. Akenes may 

 be inferior, as in the Compositae (Fig. 241) where they develop 

 from inferior ovaries, being frequently surmounted by the. pappus 

 or calyx ; or half inferior, as in the rose ( Fig. 89, G ) where they 

 develop from half inferior ovaries ; or superior, as in the buttercup 

 (Fig. 84, D). 



Fig. 90. A, transverse section of colocynth showing seeds (s) borne on parietal 

 placentas; B, transverse section of fruit of Ricinus communis showing septicidal dehis- 

 cence of capsule, the seeds (s) being borne on axial placentas; C, transverse section of card- 

 amom showing loculicidal dehiscence, the seeds (s), as in B, being borne on axial placentas. 



A Berry is a fleshy, indehiscent fruit, the seeds of which 

 are embedded in the sarcocarp; berries are superior when they 

 develop free from the torus, as in belladonna (Fig. 268), capsi- 

 cum, grape, etc., and inferior when the torus forms a part of the 

 fruit, as in banana, cranberry and gooseberry. 



A Capsule is a dry, dehiscent fruit, consisting of two or more 

 united carpels. Dehiscence in capsules may occur in five dififerent 

 ways: In the castor-bean (Fig. 90, B) the carpels separate from 

 each other along the walls or septa (dissepiments), the seeds being 

 discharged along the ventral suture of the separated carpels, and 

 this mode of dehiscence is called septicidal. In mustard (Fig. 

 89, A ) the dissepiments remain intact and dehiscence occurs along 

 the margin of the capsule, and is therefore called marginicidal ; 



