SECTION 



14.] 



FRUIT. 



123 



Poppy, or burst irregularly in some part, as in Lobelia and the Snapdragon ; 

 but commonly it splits open (or is dehiscent) lengthwise into regular pieces, 

 called Valves. 



371. Regular Dehiscence in a capsule takes place in two ways, which are 

 best illustrated in pods of two or three cells. It is either 



Locjilicidal, or, splitting directly into the loculi or cells, that is, down 

 the back (or the dorsal suture) of each cell or carpel, as in 

 Iris (Fig. 395) ; or 



Septicidal, that is, splitting through the partitions or septa, 

 as in St. John's-wort (Fig. 396), Rhododendron, 

 etc. This divides the capsule into its compo- 

 nent carpels, which then open by their ventral 

 suture. 



372. In loeulicidal dehiscence the valves nat- 

 urally bear the partitions on their middle ; in 

 the septicidal, half the thickness of a partition 

 is borne on the margin of each valve. See the 

 annexed diagrams. A variation of either mode 

 occurs when the valves break away from the 

 partitions, these remaining attached in the axis of 

 the fruit. This is called Septifragal dehiscence. 

 One form is seen in the Morning-Glory (Fig. 

 400). 



373. The capsules of Rue, Spurge, and some others, are both loculi 

 cidal and septicidal, and so split -» 

 into half-carpellary valves or pieces, f 



374. The Silique (Fig. 401) is 

 the technical name of the peculiar 

 pod of the Mustard family ; which 

 is two-celled by a false partition 

 stretched across between two pa- 

 rietal placentae. It generally opens 

 by two valves from below up- 

 ward, and the placenta? with the 

 partition are left behind when the 

 valves fall off. 



375. A Silicle or Pouch is only 

 a short and broad silique, like that 

 of the Shepherd's Purse, Fig. 402, 

 403. 



Pio. 395. Capsule of Iris, with loeulicidal dehiscence; below, cut across. 

 Fig. 396. Pod of a Marsh St. John's-wort, with septicidal dehiscence. 

 Fig. 397, 398. Diagrams of the two modes. 



Fig. 399. Diagram of septifragal dehiscence of the loeulicidal type. 400. Same 

 of the septicidal or marginicidal type. 



