T[[K FltiriT 11 7 



compartiaeiit. (8) The halves {pulces) of the .seed case are sei>arated 

 nearly to the middle, cohering oidy by tlieir basal portions. (I)) 'i'lie 

 edges of the inner, bony seed cases ciuve in somewhat, as if com- 

 pressed. (10) Try to fit the seeds back into the cases. Are the cases 

 large enough to cover the seeds? 



The fruit of Witch-hazel is a projectile apparatus. As the valves 

 open wider and wider, in the process of drying, the seeds are squeezed 

 more and more by ihe shrinkage of tlie bduy layei' and tin' incurving 

 of the valve edges. At a. cei'tain point, tlie intensity and ilii'ection •>( 

 pressure become such tliat the seed is shot out willi njuch force — 

 enough force, under the most favorable conditions, to carry the secil 

 to a distance of forty or fifty feet. 



Draw whatever is necessary to illustrate your notes on tliis fruit. 



XIV. THE FRUIT 



311. Nature of the fruit. — Tlic iimtnie ovary is tlio 

 Fi'tiit. In the strictest sense the iruit is llie seed ncsscI, 

 teclmically named the Peuicaiu'. But prarticully it may 

 include other parts organically connected with the peri- 

 carp. The calyx especially, or a part of it, is often in- 

 corporated with the ovary, so as to be indistinguishably 

 a portion of the pericarp. The receptacle forms, along 

 with the calyx, the whole bulk of such edible fruits as 

 Apples and Pears. The receptacle is an obvious ijart in 

 Blackberries (see Fig. 25l:)), and is the whole edible p(ir- 

 tion in the strawberry. 



312. A cluster of distinct carpels ma}", also, in ripening, 

 be consolidated or compacted, so as practically to be taken 

 for one fruit. Such are Raspberries, Blacklx-rries, etc. 

 Moreover, the ripened jjroduct of many flowers may be 

 compacted or grown together so as to form a single com- 

 pound fruit. 



THE KINDS OF FRUITS 



313. In respect to composition, fruits may l)e classified 



liltO 



Simple, those which result from the ripening of a single 

 pistil, and consist only of the matured ovary, either by 

 itself, as in a Peach (Pig. 255), or with the receptacle and 



