MATUEATION OF THE PBEICAEP. 319 



B. Polygnoecial or Multiple Fruits formed by the imion of several Flowers, and 

 consisting of Floral Enyelopes, as well as Ovaries ;4 these are Anthocarpous. 



Hollow Anthocarpous Fruit. — Syconus (Fig). 



(formed by Indurated or ScalyCatkin. — Stro- 

 bilus (Fir Cone and Hop), 

 formed by Succulent Spike. — Sorosis (Bread- 

 fruit, Mulberry, Pine-apple), OaUntlus 

 (Juniper). 



Professor Dickson gives the following classification of Fruits (ma- 

 ture pistils). 



1. Oapsule. Dry, dehiscent, allowing the seeds to escape — Capsule, Siliqua, 

 Follicle, Legume, Regma, Diplotegia, Pyxidium, etc. , of authors. 



2. Schimcarp. Dry, breaking up into two or more, one- or few-seeded 

 indehiscent pieces — Carcerulus {Malva, Tropceolvm, Lammm, etc.). Samara {Acer), 

 Lomentum, Cremooarp, of authors. 



3. Achene. Dry, indehiscent, one- or few-seeded, not breaking up as the last 

 — Achene, Caryopsis, Samara {Fraxdnus, etc.), Cypsela, Glans, of authors. 



4. Berry. Indehiscent. Seeds imbedded in pulp. Outer portion of variable 

 consistence — Uva, Hesperidium, Amphisarca, Pepo, Balausta, Bacca, of authors. 



5. Drupe. Indehiscent. Seed or seeds inclosed by the distinctly defined and 

 indurated endocarp. Outer portion of variable consistence (ileshy, fibrous, etc.) — 

 Drupe, Tryma, Pome, of authors.* 



Where several distinct (apocarpous) fruits are produced from one flower ; the 

 term Etoerio designates a collection of Achenes, Drupes or Follicles (?), upon a 

 more or less convex receptacle ; and Gyna/nhodum a collection of Achenes upon 

 the inner surface of a hollow succulent receptacle. 



Where the fruits from an inflorescence are massed together the whole forms a 

 " confluent fruit." (a) Syconus — Achenes, upon a flat or hollow, dry or succulent 

 axis of inflorescence, (i) Sorosis — Achenes, Drupes, or Berries, with succulent 

 perianths, or succulent bracts, or both, upon a, more or less elongated axis of 

 inflorescence ;' — Sorosis and Galbulus of authors, (c) Strobilus — Achenes, with 

 dry bracts, and sometimes scale-like secondary peduncles, upon a more or less 

 elongated axis of inflorescence. 



7. Matwration of the Pericarp. 



After fertilisation, the parts of the ovary begin to swell, the 

 foramen of the ovule is more or less closed, the stigma becomes dry, 

 and the style either withers and falls ofi', or remains attached as a 

 hardened process or apiculum ; whUe the embryo plant is developed 

 in the ovule. Certain fruits, such as Oranges and Grapes, are some- 

 times produced without seeds. It does not appear, therefore, necessary 

 fojr the production of fruit in all cases, that the process of fertilisation 



* The above classifloation is founded upon the idea that the definition or description of 

 a fruit as such, should Involve the structwal modification undergone by the pistil iu ripen- 

 ing, rather than the origin of the fruit from superior to inferior ovary, etc., which is to be 

 imderstood or taken for granted, from the description of the immature pistil. From such 

 a principle not being recognised, the terms indicating different fraits have been needlessly 

 multiplied. 



