80 



HOW PLANTS ARE PROPAGATED. 



235. 1 Follicle is such a simple pod which opens down one side only. The pods 

 of Peony, Columbine, and Marsh-Marigold (Fig. 210) are follicles. 



236. A legume is a pod of a simple pistil, which splits into two 

 pieces. It is the fruit of the Pea or Pulse family. 

 Fig. 211 is a legume of the Pea, open, separated into 

 its two valves. 



237. A Capsule is the pod of any compound pistil. 

 "When capsules open regularly, they either split through 

 the partitions, or where these would be, as in the pod of St. Jolm's- 

 wort (Fig. 212) ; this divides them into so many follicles, as it were, 

 which open down the inner edge : or else they split open into the 

 hack of the cells, as in the pods of the Lily, the Iris 

 (Fig. 213), &c. 



238. The pieces into which a pod splits are called 

 ""'"""- its Valves. So a follicle (Fig. 210) is 



one-valved ; a legume (Fig. 211), two^alved ; the cap- 

 sules in Fig. 212 and 213, both three-valved, &c. 



239. Two or three forms of capsule have peculiar 

 names. The principal sorts are the Silique, the Silicic, 

 and the Pyxis. 



240. A Silique (Fig. 214) is the pod of the Cress 

 family. It is slender, and splits into two 

 valves or pieces, leaving behind a partition 

 in a frame which bears the seeds. 



241. A Silicle or Pouch is only a silique 

 not much longer than broad. 

 Shepherd's Purse; Fig. 216, the same 

 with one valve fallen. 



242. A Pyxis is a pod which opens 

 crosswise, the top separating as a lid. 

 Fig. 217 shows it in the Common 

 Purslane ; the lid falling off. 

 siiicis. 243. There remain a few sorts of 



fruits which are more or less compound or complex. They may be 217. pj-i't. 



classed under the heads of Aggregated, Accessory, and Multiple fruits. 



Capsules, opening. 



Fig. 215 is the silicle of 



