80 



HOW PLANTS ARE PROPAGATED. 



235. A Follicle is such a simple pod which opens down one side only. The pods 

 of Peony, Columbine, and Marsh-Marigold (Fig. 210) are follicles. 



236. A legume is a pod of a simple pistil, which splits into two 

 pieces. It is the fruit of the Pea or Pulse family. 

 Fig. 211 is a legume of the Pea, open, separated into 

 its two valves. 



237. A Capsnle is the pod of any compound pistil. 

 When capsules open regularly, they either split through 

 the partitions, or where these would be, as in the pod of St. John's- 

 wort (Fig. 212) ; this divides them into so many follicles, as it were, 

 which open down the inner edge : or else they split open into the 

 hack of the cells, as in the pods of the Lily, the Iris 

 (Fig. 213), &c. 



238. The pieces into which a pod splits are called 

 its Valves. So a follicle (Fig. 210) is 



one-valved ; a legume (Fig. 211), two-valved ; the cap- 

 sules in Fig. 212 and 213, both three-valved, &c. 



239. Two or three forms of capsule have peculiar 

 names. The principal sorts are the Silique, the Silicle, 

 and the Pyxis. 



240. A Silique (Fig. 214) is the pod of the Cress 

 family. It is slender, and spUts into two 

 valves or pioces, leaving behind a partition 

 in a frame which bears the seeds. 



241. A Silicle or Pouch is only a silique 

 not much longer than broad, 

 Shepherd's Purse; Fig. 216, the same 

 with one valve fallen. 



242. A Pyxis is a pod which opens 

 crosswise, the top separating as a lid. 

 Fig. 217 shows it in the Common 

 Purslane ; the lid falling off. 



243. There remain a few sorts of 

 fruits which are more or less compound or complex. They may be an. pyiii. 

 classed under the heads of Aggregated, Accessory, and Multiple fruits. 



212 213 



Capsules, opening. 



Fig. 215 is the silicle of 



