THE FRUIT. 



43 



Capsule, or pod, is the general name for dry seed-vessels which split 

 open at maturity in some regular manner. It presents many different 

 forms. 



The follicle is the fruit of a simple pistil which splits along its inner 

 suture — that is, the suture formed by the united edges of the leaflet which 

 formed the pistil (Fig. 88). 



The legume splits along both sutures, as we see in the bean and pea 

 (Fig. 89). It is common to a large order of plants, the leguminosce. 



The true capsule is the product of a compound pistil. It may be one 

 or mairy-celled, and may discharge its seeds through chinks or pores, as in 



i^'/ 



Pig. S9. — Legume of 

 the pea. 



Fig. 90. — Capsule of poppy. 



Fig. 91.— A silique. 



the poppy (Fig. 90), or burst irregularly, or, as is most common, open by 

 valves. 



Dehiscence by valves is loculicidal when the pod splits down the back 

 of each cell; septicidal when the cells first separate from each other 

 through their partitions and then open along their inner margin. 



The silique is the pod found in the cruciferce. It is divided into two 

 cells by a false partition, and generally opens by two valves from below 

 upward (Fig. 91). 



The silicle is a short, broad silique, like that of the shepherd's purse. 



