138 



Elementary Botany 



pyxis is a capsule dehiscing transversely, as in the Anagallis 



(fig. 258) and Plantago (fig. 262). 



A legume, or pod, is a unilocular monocarpellary capsule 



dehiscing by both dorsal and 

 ventral sutures, as in the Pea 

 (fig. 263). _ 



A follicle is a monocarpel- 

 lary capsule dehiscing by ventral 

 suture (figs. 264 and 265), or, 

 in some Magnolias, by dorsal 

 suture, only. 



A siliqua is a syncarpous bi- 

 carpellary capsule, one-celled, 

 with a false division or replum 

 running up the centre; It is 

 long and narrow in shape, and 

 the two side walls break awa)', 

 leaving the central replum with 



Fig. 265. — Fruit of Peony, consisting of 

 two follicles. 



Fig. 266. — Wallflower {Cheiranthus 

 Cheiri). Siliqua. 



Fig. 267. — Silicula of 

 Cochiearia, open and 

 showing the seeds at- 

 tached to the replum. 



Fig. 268.— Cremo- 

 carp 01 tile Fen- 

 nel : a, carpo- 

 phore. 



the seeds. An example is seen in the fruit of the Wallflower 

 (fig. 266). 



A silicula resembles the last, except that, instead of being 

 long and narrow, it is short and broad (fig. 267). 



When a dehiscent fruit breaks up into several portions which 

 are usually one-seeded and remain closed, although they do in 

 some few cases open to allow the seeds to fall out, it is called 

 a schizocarp, the divisions being called mericarps. 



There are also several varieties of schizocarp. 



