CONFLUENT OK POLYGYNCECIAL FRUITS. 



317 



hollowed, so as to bear numerous flowers, all of which are united in one 

 mass to form the fruit. The Fig (fig. 267, p. 180) is of this nature, 

 and what are called its seeds are the achaenia or monospermal seed- 

 vessels of the numerous flowers scattered through the pulpy hol- 

 lowed axis. In Dorstenia (fig. 266, p. 180) the axis is less deeply 

 hollowed, and of a harder texture, the fruit exhibiting often very 

 anomalous forms. 



Strobilus (ffrgo^/'Xos, fir-cone) is a fruit-bearing spike more or less 

 elongated, covered with scales (fig. 572), each of which represents a sepa- 

 rate flower, and has often two seeds 

 at its base. The scales may be 

 considered as bracts, or as flattened 

 carpeUary leaves or branches, and 

 the seeds are naked, as there is no 

 true ovary present with its style or 

 stigma. This fruit is seen in the 



cones of Firs, Spruces, Larches, and W^^^^Kv Fig 573 



Cedars, which have received the 

 name of Coniferee, or cone-bearers, 

 on this account. The scales of the 

 strobilus are sometimes thick and 

 closely united, so as to form a more 

 or less angular and rounded mass, 

 as in the Cypress (fig. 573) ; while 

 in the Juniper they become fleshy, 

 and are so incorporated as to form 

 a globular fruit like a berry (fig. 

 574). Thejdry fruit of the Cypress, and the succulent fruit of the 

 Juniper, have received the name of Galbulus (galbulus, nut of the 

 cypress). The fruit of the Yew {Taxus baccata) is regarded as a cone 

 reduced to a single naked seed, covered by succulent scales, which 

 unite to form a scarlet fleshy envelope. In the Hop the fruit is called 

 also a strobUus, but in it the scales are thin and membranous, and the 

 seeds are not naked but are contained in pericarps. 



Fig. 572. Cone of Pinus sylvestris, Sootch Fir, consisting of numerous 1)13013 or floral 

 leaves, eacli of wMoli covers two winged seeds. These seeds are called naked, in conse- 

 quence of not being contained in an ovary, with a style or stigma. Pig. 678. Cone of 

 Cupressus sempervixens. Cypress ; one of the Gymnospermous or naked-seeded plants, like 

 the Pine. Fig. 674. Succulent cone or Galbulus of Juniperus macrocarpa. eeee. The 

 different scales or bracts united so as to enclose the seeds. 



Fig. 672. 



Pig. 674. 



