DEHISCENT FEUITS. 



305 



543 c). The union between the edges of .the carpels may be persistent, 

 and they may dehisce by the dorsal suture, or through the back of 

 the loculaments, as in the Lily and Iris (fig. 544). In' this case the 

 valves are formed by the halves of the cells, and the septa either 

 remain united to the axis, or they separate from it, carrying the 

 placentas with them (fig. 545), or leaving them in the centre. This 

 dehiscence is locuUcidal (loculus, cell, and ccedo, I cut). Sometimes the 

 fruit opens by the dorsal suture, and at the same time the valves or 

 walls of the ovaries separate from the septa (fig. 546), leaving them 

 attached to the centre, as in Thorn Apple (Datura Stramonium). This 

 is called septifragal dehiscence (septum and frango, 1 break), and may be 

 looked upon as a modification of the loculicidal. The separation of 

 the valves takes place either from above downwards (fig. 546), or from 

 below' upwards (fig. 547). 



Sometimes the axis is prolonged as far as the base of the styles, as 

 in the Mallow (figs. 548; 417, p. 239), and Castor-oil plant (fig. 549), 



Kg. 547. 



Fig. 648. 



Kg. 549. 



the carpels being united to it by their faces, and separating from it 

 without opening. In the Umbelliferse (fig. 550) the two carpels 

 separate from the lower part of the axis, and remain attached to a 

 prolongation of it, called a carpophore (xa^-jrog, fruit, and pof e'w, I bear), 

 or 'podocarp {'^roig, foot, and xagTo's, fruit), which splits into two 

 (fig. 550 a), and suspends them. Hence the name cremocarp (xgs/taiw. 



Kg. 647. Capsule of Swietenia Mahagoni, opening by valves from Ibelow upwards. The 

 letters have the same signification as in fig. 546. Fig. 548. Fruit of Malva rotundifolia, 

 with half the carpels composing it removed, to show the axis, a, to which they are attached. 

 This axis ends at the point where the style, s, is produced, o e, The carpels, which are left 

 attached to the axis, around which they are arranged in a vertieillate 'manner. The lateral 

 surface of the two carpels in front, (f, is exposed. Kg. 549. Tricoceous capsule of Rici- 

 nus communis. Castor-oil plant, cut vertically, to show the axis, a, prolonged between the 

 carpels, and terminating by small cords or funiculi, /, wjiich project into the loculaments, 

 and are attabhed to seeds, g g, Seeds exposed, each surmounted 'by a fleshy caruncula, c. 

 pp, Pericarp. 



X 



