MIRBEL'S CLASSIFICATION OF FRUITS. 
95 
Fig. 106. 
Fig. 106, is a re- 
presentation of an 
acorn, the fruit of the 
oak, (auERcus robur ;) 
it stands in a hemis- 
pherical cupule, form- 
ed of imbricated 
„// scales. The gland is 
ellipsoid, coriaceous, 
one-celled, and one- 
seeded. The seed is 
tunic ated ; embryo is 
dicotyledonous ; the 
cotyledons are large 
and fleshy; a, is an 
entire calyhion ; 5, the cupule, cZ, two abortive glands ; c, the gland 
cut vertically, showing the embryo near its apex. 
Fig. 107. Sycone, (from sucon, 
— a fig.) This is a genus 
of fruits formed by the 
enlargement of the 
clinanthe or recepta- 
cle, into a hollow 
fleshy substance, co- 
vered within by nu- 
merous florets, each 
of which contains a 
drupeole ; these florets in the mature state of the fruit disappear, 
leaving only seeds imbedded in the cellular substance of the pericarp. 
The cavity within becomes gradually filled by the increase of cellular 
tissue, until, as in the fig, it entirely disappears. Fig. 107, a, repre- 
sents a sycone, the fruit of the Ambora, which belongs to the fig 
tribe of plants ; this remains open at its summit, and is more woody 
in its texture than the common fig, {Ficus carica.) 6, represents 
the fruit, cut transversely, with the seeds circularly arranged within 
the sarcocarp. 
4th. Sorose, (from soros, a 
Fio". 108 collection ;) this genus con- 
°' ■ tains many fruits united in a 
spike, or catkin, and cover- 
ed with succulent floral en- 
velopes, as the mulberry. 
Fig. 108, a, represents the 
fruit of the morus rubra, (red 
mulberry,) which is an ex- 
ample of the genus sorose ; it 
is of an oblong form; each 
little drupe is surrounded by 
a succulent pericarp ; the nut 
is one-seeded; b, represents 
a detached perianth, contain- 
ing a drupeole ; c, drupeole ; d, a nut; e, the same cut transversely ; 
/, the embryo. 
Describe an acorn— What is a Sycone 7— Describe the Sorose— What does Fig. 108 
present 1 
