316 



CONFLUENT OK POLYGYNCEOIAL FETJITS. 



It sometimes exhibits perforations, becoming fenestrate {fenestra, a 

 window). At other times its central portion is absorbed, so that the 

 fruit becomes one-celled. 



Multiple or Polygynoecial Fruits which are the produce of 

 several Flowers united. 



It sometimes happens that the ovaries of two flowers unite so as 

 to form a double fruit. This may be seen in many species of Honey- 

 suckle. But the fruits which are now to be considered consist usually 

 of the floral envelopes, as well as the ovaries of several flowers united 

 into one, and are called Multiple, Confluent, ot .Polygynoecial. The 

 term Anthocarpous (at^os, a flower, %a,^ir6s, fruit) has also been applied 

 as indicating that the floral envelopes as well as the carpels are con- 

 cerned in the formation of the fruit. 



The Sorosis (ffwjo'e, a congeries or cluster) is a, confluent fruit 

 formed by a united spike of flowers, which be- 

 comes succulent. The fruit of the Pine-apple (fig. 

 570) is composed of numerous ovaries, floral enve- 

 lopes, and bracts, combined so as to form a succulent 

 mass. The scales outside, cc, are the modified 

 bracts and floral leaves, which, when the develop- 

 ment of the fruit-bearing spike terminates, appear 

 in the form of ordinary leaves, and constitute the 

 crown, /. Other instances of a sorosis are the Bread- 

 fruit and Jack-ftniit. Sometimes a fruit of this 

 kind resembles that formed by a single flower, and 

 a superficial observer might have some difficulty in 

 marking the difference. Thus, the Strawberry, 

 Easpberry, and Mulberry appear to be very like each other, but they 

 differ totally in their structure. The Strawberry and 

 Easpberry are each the produce of a siugle flower, the 

 former being a succulent edible receptacle bearing achsenia 

 on its convex surface ; the latter being a collection of 

 drupes placed on a conical unpalatable receptacle ; while 

 the Mulberry (fig. 571) is a sorosis formed by numerous 

 flowers united together, the calyces becoming succulent 

 and investing the pericarps. 



Syconus (aijxov, a fig) is a confluent anthocarpous fruit, 

 in which the axis, or the extremity of the peduncle, is 



Fig. 570. Polygynoecial or confluent fruit of Ananaasa sativa. Pine-apple. Axis bearing 

 numeiouB flowers, tlie ovaries of whicli are comMned with tlie bracts, c c, to form the fruit. 

 /, Crown of the Pine-apple, consisting of empty bracts or floral leaves. Fig. 571. Antho- 

 carpous fruit of the Mulberry, formed by the union of several flowers. The flOTal envelopes 

 become succulent, and cover the pistil. 



Fig. 670. 



Fig. 671. 



