HOW FRUITS A RE MA OK 



The peculiar arrangement is formed as follows . — The three carpels 

 have their non-coherent edges facing the middle as usual, but their six 

 margins or placentas, instead of uniting, grow outwards again till they 

 reach the circumference. Then, turning round, they once more face the 

 middle, and so bear their seeds standing in that direction. The outer 

 wall acquires the well-known tough rind-like character ; but all the soft 

 internal part of the ovary becomes succulent and juicy, completely filling 

 up the cavities of the three ovary-cells, and so form the compact mass of 

 the Cucumber, but the Melon remains with a central cavity. 



Confluent Fruits. Of these the Fig, Mulberry, and Pineapple are 

 familiar examples. 



The Pig consi st s of a bag-like receptacle formed out of the flower-stalk 

 or peduncle and closed by minute scales at the " eye." Just inside of the 

 eye and spread over the top of tlx: internal cavity may be male flowers ; 

 but as a rule there are none, being (with rare exceptions) only found in 

 the " wild" or Cajmficus Fig. All the rest of the flowers in a Fig are 

 female, and usually abortive. The pistils of the minute female flowers 

 consist of two coherent carpels ; the outer part gelatinises, while the 

 inner hardens and resembles a seed ; but it never contains one in the 

 ordinary edible Figs. 



The Mulberry fruit, as stated above, consists of a cluster of female 



(lowers in which the calyx alone becomes edible, the pistil forming a Seed- 

 like body within it. 



Gymnohpkrmouk Fruits. —These have no pistil at all, and it is only 

 the ovules which become naked seeds, with or without accessory 

 appendages. 



In Pines the; confluent fruit is a cone consisting of carpellary soalei 

 with seeds, often winged when ripe. In Cypress, Thuyas, &c. the scales 

 assume a peltate character, giving a globular form to the fruit, called a 

 " galbulus." in the Juniper there are only three scales, with one ovule 

 at the base of each. On ripening they close up, forming tin; so-called 

 " berry." In the Yew the single seed is somewhat stony and remains 

 green, but a fleshy cup grows round it, being an outgrowth from the axis. 



