INTRODUCTION. 33 



Follicle, a fruit of a single carpel, dehiscing by the ventral suture, as in 

 the larkspur. Legume or pod, a fruit of a single carpel, opening by both the 

 ventral and dorsal sutures, so as to separate into two valves. When a legume 

 is divided. into joints it is called a Loment ; these joints are sometimes inde- 

 hiscent, and sometimes dehiscent. A Drupe is a more or less fleshy fruit, con- 

 taining an indehiscent stony one-celled nut; where there is more than one 

 cell, it is called drupaceous. An Achenium is a dry, indistinct, one-seeded 

 pericarp, often terminated by the persistent and plumose style, called pappus; 

 in the Rose the achenia are seated on the hollow expansion of the receptacle ; 

 in the Strawberry they are on the surface of the pulpy receptacle. A Cremo- 

 carp is a pair of achenia placed face to face, and covered by the calyx tube, 

 and when ripe separate from each other, or from a central axis, called carpo- 

 phore, as in the umbelliferous plants. Each half fruit is called a Hernicarp 

 or Mericarp. A Caryopsis is a dry one-seeded pericarp, closely adhering to 

 the integument of the seed, so as not to be separated from it, as in Indian 

 corn, wheat, &c. A Utricle is like a caryopsis, but the pericarp is separable 

 from the seed as in Chenopodium. A Nut is a one-celled, one-seeded, inde- 

 hiscent fruit like an achenium, but produced by an ovary of two or more 

 cells, with one or more ovules in each ; all but a single ovule and cell disap- 

 pearing at maturity; the nut is sometimes enclosed or surrounded by a kind 

 of involucre called a cupule, as the cup in the acorn, and bur in the chestnut. 

 A Capsule is a dry, many-celled pericarp, resulting from a compound ovary, 

 and opening by valves or pores. A Siliqua or pod isa two-valved oblong 

 pericarp, rendered two-celled by a spurious dissepiment, formed by an exten- 

 sion of the placenta ; when it is broad and short it is called a Silicula or pouch. 



A Pyxidium or Pyxis is a capsule which dehisces transversely. A Samara 

 is a nut or achenium with a winged apex or margin. A Pome is a fruit com- 

 posed of a fleshy or juicy calyx, enclosing two or more cartilaginous or bony 

 carpels. A Pepo is an indehiscent, fleshy, or internally pulpy fruit, usually 

 formed of three carpels, invested by the calyx, and with a firm rind. A 

 Berry is an indehiscent fruit, fleshy or pulpy throughout ; a Hesperidium or 

 orange is merely a berry with a coriaceous rind. A Strobile or cone is the 

 collective fruit of the fir tribe ; each scale represents an open carpel, bearing 

 one or more naked seeds. 



Seed. The seed like the ovule, consists of a nucleus usually enclosed in 

 two integuments. The outer of these is called testa or episperm, and varies 

 much in texture and form. It is sometimes furnished with a tuft of hairs at 

 one end called a coma; or is wholly covered with a long wool. The inner 

 integument, corresponding to the secundine of the ovule is termed tegmen. 

 Where the proper coat of the nucleus is visible, it is denominated endo- 

 pleura. Seeds are sometimes furnished with a complete or partial covering, 

 exterior to their proper coats, from an expansion of the placenta, or of the apex 

 of the funiculus ; this is called arillus or aril, as the mace of the nutmeg. 

 The scar left by the separation of the seed from its stalk is termed the kilum. 



The nucleus or kernel consists of the albumen, and the embryo. The 

 albumen is a mucilaginous or amylaceous substance contained in the cellular 

 tissue of the nucleus, for the protection and nourishment of the embryo. It 

 is mealy in the grasses, horny in the coffee, &c, oily in the poppy, &c, and 

 fleshy in most seeds. Where it has a wrinkled or folded appearance, from 

 not being deposited uniformly, it is said to be ruminated. The albumen is 

 not essential, and therefore is wanting in many seeds, as in all the cruci- 

 ferous plants, the pea tribe, &c. Where it is present, seeds are said to be 

 albuminous; where it is wanting, to be exalbuminous. 



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