SECTION 14.1 



FRUIT. 



123 



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

 but commonly it splits open (or is dehiacenf) 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 



Loculicidal, or, splitting directly into the hculi or cells, that is, down 

 th'e^ back (or the tllOrsat" suture) of eact'cell or carpel, as in 

 Iris (Mg. 395) ; or 



Septieidal, that is, splitting through the pailitions or septa, 

 as in St. John's-wort (Fig. 896), Rhododendron, 

 etc. This divides the capsule into its comp6- 

 neut carpels, which then open by their ventral 

 suture. 



372. In loculicidal dehiscence the valves nat- 

 urally bear the partitions on their middle ; in 

 the septieidal, half the thickness of a partition 

 is borne on the margin of each valve. See tlie 

 annexed diagrams. A variation of either mode 

 occurs when the valves break away from thb 

 partitions, these remaining attached in the axis o!f 

 the fruit. This is called SeptifragalA.e)iAsctncf\ 

 One form is seen in the Moming-Glory (Fig* 

 400). 



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

 cidal and septieidal, and so split ^ 

 into half-carpellary valves or pieces . /^ 



374. The Silique (Fig. 401) is /\ 

 the technical name of the peculiar [ 

 pod of the Mustard family ; whici) 

 is two-celled by a false partition 

 stretched across between two pa- 

 rietal placentas. It generally opens 

 by two valves from below up- 

 ward, and the placentae witli the 

 pai'titiou are left behind when the 

 valves fall oif. 



375 . A Silicle or Pouch is only 

 -a short and broad silique, like Jhat" 



of the Shepherd's Purse, Fig. I§3, 

 403. 



395 



Fio. 395. Capsule of Iris, with loculicidal dehiscence; below, cut across. 

 Via. 396. Pod of a Marsh St. John's-wort, with septieidal dehiscence. 

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



Fio. 399. Diagram of septifragal dehiscence of the loculicidal type. 400. Same 

 of the septieidal or marginicidal type. 



