10 - THE SEVERAL KINDS OF PERICARPIUM, 



CHAP. VI. 



OF THE PERICARPIUM. 



THE Pericarpium, seed-vessel, is the germen described in the 

 last chapter, grown to maturity. It is defined by Linnceus "as a 

 viscus of the plant filled with seeds, which it discharges when 

 ripe." 



It is distinguished, according to the circumstances that attend 

 it, by the following appellations. 



1. Capsula, a. capsule, is a hollow pericarpium, which cleaves 

 or parts in some determinate manner... The enclosure of the cap- 

 sule, which surrounds and covers the fruit externally, is called a 

 valvule ; the partitions which divide the capsule into sundry com- 

 partments or cells, dissepiments ; the substance which passes 

 through the capsule, and connects the several partitions and 

 seeds, columella; and the cells, or hollow compartments of the 

 capsule in which the seeds are lodged, loculaments. 



2. Si li qua, a pod, is a pericarpium of two valves*, wherein 

 the seeds are fastened along both the sutures or joinings of the 

 valves. 



3. Legumen, a pod also, is a pericarpium of two valves, where- 

 in the seeds are fastened along one suture only. 



4. Conceptaculum, a conceptacle, is a pericarpium of a single 

 valve, which opens on one side lengthways, and has not the seeds 

 fastened to it* 



* The author has called the separate pieces which constitute the pericarp, val- 

 vules, and those of the other kinds, valves. This distinction of names is seldom or 

 never observed. Editor. 



