ITS KINDS. 



315 



and Ash (Fig. 577). The fruit of the Maple consists of two such 

 fruits belonging to one flower, united by their bases (Fig. 787). 



607. Dehiscent Fruits, or Pods, are distinguishable into 

 those consisting of a simple pistil, and those resulting 

 from a compound pistil. 



608. Of those originating from simple pistils, the 

 principal kinds are the Follicle and the Legume. These 

 may be taken as the type, of simple fruits. 



609. A Follicle is a pod formed of a simple pistil, and 

 dehiscent by the ventral or inner suture alone ; as in 



the Milkweed, Larkspur, Columbine, Peony, 

 and Marsh-Marigold (Fig. 579). When it 

 opens widely, the pistil may be said to revert 

 to its natural state of a leaf, and it often looks 

 much like one, as in Fig. 492. 



610. A legume is a pod formed by the ripen- 

 ing of a simple pistil which dehisces by both 

 sutures, and so divides into two valves or pieces, as in 

 the Bean and Pea (Fig. 580). This being the ordinary °'* 



fruit of the Pulse family, accordingly named 

 Leguminosce (or Leguminous plants), the name 

 has been extended to it in descriptive botany, 

 in all cases, whatever thg form, and whether 

 dehiscent or not. The legume will be found 

 to exhibit no small diversity in this large fam- 

 ily (799). Among its forms is one termed 



611. A lomcnt. This is a legume divided 

 transversely into two or more one-seeded joints, 

 which usually fall apart at maturity (Fig. 581). 

 Commonly these joints remain closed, as in 

 Desmodium ; sometimes they split into two 

 valves, as in Mimosa. 



612. A Capsule is the pod, or dehiscent fruit, 

 of any compound pistil. When regularly dehis- 

 cent, as already stated (591), the pod splits 

 lengthwise into pieces or valves. 



613. A capsule, necessarily consisting of two or more carpels or 



FIG, 577. Samara of White Ash. 578. Samara of American Elm. 



EIG. 579. Follicle of Caltha palustria, the Marsh-Marigold. 



FIG. 580. Legume of a Sweet Pea, already dehiscent. 581. Loment of a Tick-Trefoil or 

 Desmodium. 



