114 
CLASSIFICATION OF FRUITS. 
most round, as in shepherd’s purse. This difference in the 
form of the Silique and Silicle is the foundation of the dis- 
tinction of the orders in the class Tetradynamia. 
3d. Legume, is a pericarp of two valves, with the seeds attach- 
ed only to one suture or seam ; as the pea. In this cir- 
cumstance it differs from the Silique, which has its seeds 
affixed to both sutures. The word pod is used in common 
language for both these species of pericarp. Plants which 
produce the legume are called Leguminous. The greater 
number of these plants are in the Kith class, Diadelphia. The 
tamarind is a legume filled with pulp, in w'hich the seeds 
are lodged. 
4th. Follicle, is a one valved pericarp which opens longitudi- 
nally on one side, having its seed loose within it, that is, 
not bound to the suture. We have examples of this in the 
dog’s bane, ( Apocynum ,) which is a double follicle, and in 
the milk weed, ( Asclepias .) 
5th. Drupe, a stone fruit, is a kind of pericarp which has no 
valve, and contains a nut or stone, within which there is a 
kernel. The Drupe is mostly a moist succulent fruit : as 
in the plum, the cherry, and the peach. The nut or stone, 
in the drupe is a kind of woody cup commonly containing 
a single kernel, called the Nucleus ; this hard shell, thus 
enveloping the kernel, is called the Putamen ; it may be 
seen in the stone of a cherry or peach. 
6th. Nut is a seed covered with a shell resembling the capsule 
in some respects, and the drupe in others : as the walnut, 
chesnut, &c. 
7th. Pome is a pulpy pericarp without valves, but containing a 
membranous capsule, with a number of cells, which contain 
the seeds. This species of pericarp has no external open- 
ing or valve. The apple, pear, quince, the gourd, the cu- 
cumber, and the melon, furnish us with examples of this 
kind of pericarp. With respect to form, the Pome is ob- 
long, ovate, globular, &c. the form of fruits being much va- 
ried by climate and soil. You know that apples are not 
uniform in their size or figure. With respect to the num- 
ber of cells also, the apple is variable. 
8th. Berry is a succulent pulpy pericarp, without, valves, and 
containing, naked seeds, or seeds with no other covering 
than the pulp which surrounds it ; the seeds in the berry 
are sometimes dispersed promiscuously through the pulpy 
substance, but are more generally placed upon receptacles 
within the pulp. A compound^ berry, consists, of several 
Legume — Follicle — Drupe — Nut — Pome— Berry. 
