FRUIT. 
part of the fru@tification of plants which follows the flower, 
- and comprehends the feed. All the parts of the flower are 
fubfervient to the formation, ae agus and perfection - 
fo 
f anew 
of the fruit, which is deftined t 
d fo as 
growth, 
fluence oF the aa by ise it is Fis 
ry fore | . 
nature to convey it 
firiGteft con 
oe employed to accomplifh the great ends of its forma- 
The fruit confifts of the Pericarpium or Seed- veffel, and 
the feed whic it contains. ome botanifts vor det nd that 
c 
Wh ae yarn ‘publithed ’ - M. Duval 
Thisis fo far true ina phyfiological fenfe, that every feed 
mutt jee an seigpe coat or pe ; but this coat is not 
- more decided nor complex in what on commonly terme 
naked feeds, as th e of ies nd t x Gymno/per~ 
sia. of aged s 14th th clats, than j in ja enclofed in a true 
. For botanical Anche ns the difference between 
pericarp 
ste ay covered feeds is ufually clear and eafy, though in 
fome inftances the Linnean generic definitions may be i in- 
¢orrect in this point, as taking a dry berry or drupa 
naked feed nalogy, or a regard to natural affinities, 
will commor prove fufficient to guard us againft pee error, 
f any feeds may be faid to be truly naked, they are thofe 
of t a order veer T e M. 
- latter will be iG mu ch the 
. protected by an obfcurity-of conneéto on in the parts, cet 
impenetrable toamere botanical examination. If however 
we have recourfe to phyfiological pewel and e ioe 
to natural affinities, this error may be attacked with advan- 
. tage, being condemned by reafon, though, a t by the 
fenfes.’”? He then lays down rule t 
ripe truit which is eel to the Sree jarepumant of a 
: feed belongs to the pericarp.’? 'This-no one-can controvert, 
the only queftion being what-is fuch integument. In graffes 
nothing can be more fimple than this part, and we cannot -but 
reft content with that evidence of the fenfes which tells usa 
nen, fome o them, perhaps all but — hae Fe obliterate 
in: the fruit. is happens in-fome - {pec Chionanthus, 
which ripen but one of their four feeds, while others ripen: 
s the: whole four nee this genus has 
two, or-perha 
pulpy are be oe eps by 
very thing in a ~ 
while thofe of a se — fhew their true ftrudture as 
ef advance towards maturity. 
It is si ied cial to diftinguifh between afimple 
fruit mpound, or rather aggregate : 
Richard wuttly ous that ‘ every fimple fruit muft b 
the produce of one fimple flower,’” and that «a fruit of 
one cell from its earlieft origin, independent of abortion, 
muit neceflarily be fimple.’? We can fcarcely, however, 
affent to his next pofition, “ that every ar originating fron 
a iat aan with one oo c ous to be con fi citer e.? 
This aims at the « 
offerin 
pe, are one fim i 
> 
“ Eve 
may ferve for an ex “ Ey ee flower with feve- 
et ere difting. cLapuchous, uft be allowed to have a 
natural plurali ity of fruits, though all but one piftil may 
rove abortive.’? Ot this Ca/tha and itsallies are examples ; 
and even Delphinium, though fome of its fpecies seve even 
in their Ssogas ate, be Found to have more than o 
alk a en. ‘ Every fruit which, forming one page mafs, 
pet es on its furface ifti 
— orl inal y b 
a. a number Bt fruits ola sd into on: 
the nature "Of the Anona, and others. 
Asall true botanifts have confidered the frudtifcation of 
plants as affording 
a ftigma, is an era . 
‘This 
t eir numero 
wee more modern writers Coertne is oe for 
his oo to this part, and for his elaborate illuftrations 
of it in about a thoufand genera. Still, as every philofopher 
hasa cat in favour of the leading obje& of hi 
author laft mentioned is juftl 
laid too ‘much ftrefs upon the fruit in eftablifhing new — 
without an enlarged and _philofophical ein ia 
ion, thus run 
ought to 
nad We are, 
Linnzus, for want 
a fufficient attention to, the fruit 
united what ought to 
ENUS, PERICARPIUM, 
of-an acquaintance with, o 
of feveral plants, has not ‘unfeequently 
be eftéemed i ae genera. See 
APSULE, FOLLICLE, Drupa, 
As to the ufe of fruit, befides the pleafure and advantage 
they alford men, &c. the of fervice in guarding, pre- 
ftony part e nutritious juice 
ant, and retaining them to aie ean 3 and fending: 
none to the feed but the ‘pureft, mott elaborated, and -{pi-: 
rituous parts, for the fupport and Saba the tender,’ de~" 
icate embryo, or ene) contained ther 
So that th sey ine does the fame om a. feed; that the‘ 
leaves of the flower dot 
The ufe of piel with us ans under Sa aa regulations, 
be- rendered much more extenfive than it Ma 
which do hurt ‘when eaten raw, would ew nes equa al in 
flavour to many of thofe now obtained at*great prices oth 
‘ abroad; and lands which will not: bear-corn ‘yet-would:- bear: 
