DESCRIPTIONS OF BOTANICAL TERMS 
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be regular when the petals are all the same shape and size, and irregular when they differ in 
shape and size. 
The receptacle is the expanded apex of the flower-stalk on which the parts of the flower are 
placed ; it may be flat, convex, or concave ; when convex it is sometimes very little larger than the 
top of the stalk, but at other times it is greatly expanded, as in the Teazle and Daisy Families 
(Dipsacese and Compositae), when instead of one flower a whole colony of little flowers is 
clustered upon it. 
A bract is a modified leaf borne on the flower-stalk, usually much smaller than the ordinary 
leaf and generally undivided ; sometimes scale-like ; it may be green, or coloured as the petals, 
when it is said to be petaloid ; there may be one or more up the flower-stalk, as in the Field 
Convolvulus, or there may be many immediately surrounding the flower or flower-cluster, as in 
the Sheep’s-bit or Common Thrift. 
The fruit is the seedcase (ovary) and other parts of the flower which remain and develop with 
it after the ovules have been fertilised. The ovules, when fertilised, develop into the seeds. 
Fruits are dry, or succulent ; they may split when ripe, to free the seeds, when they are said 
to be dehiscent , or they may simply decay, when they are said to be indehiscent. 
The principal kinds of dry fruits are : — 
The achene, a small, dry, i-seeded fruit, consisting of a single carpel, which does not 
open to free the seed but decays (indehiscent) ; as in the Buttercup. 
The follicle, a dry, many-seeded fruit, consisting of a single carpel which opens (dehisces) 
down one side to free the seeds ; as in the Columbine and the Marsh Marigold. 
The pod or legume, a dry, few- or many-seeded, i-celled fruit, more or less flattened, 
consisting of one or two carpels and opening (dehiscing) down both sides, when 
ripe, to free the seeds ; as in the Pea. 
The siliqua, a long, and the silicula, a short, dry, few- or many-seeded fruit, consisting 
of two carpels ; divided lengthwise into two cells by a thin partition {replum), to 
either side of which the seeds are attached ; and opening (dehiscing) from the base 
to the apex by two valves. Examples of the siliqua are to be found in the Wall- 
flower, Stock, Cabbage, &c., and of the silicula in Sweet Alyssum, Shepherd’s 
Purse, &c. 
The capsule, a dry, roundish, many-seeded fruit, consisting of several united carpels, 
opening (dehiscing) from the top by valves or pores ; as in the Gentian or Harebell. 
The nut, a hard, dry, i-seeded fruit, not opening but decaying to free the seed 
(indehiscent); it is frequently surrounded with a hard membranous structure called 
the cupule , as in the beech or hazel. 
The principal kinds of succulent fruits are : — 
The berry, a more or less round, fleshy fruit, the seeds being embedded in the fleshy 
substance ; as in the Bilberry. 
The drupe, a roundish fleshy fruit, consisting of a fleshy juicy exterior and an inner hard 
stone containing one or rarely two seeds ; as in the Plum. 
The fruit of the Blackberry, Raspberry, &c., consists of a number of small drupes clustered 
together on an elongated receptacle. 
The pome, a fleshy fruit consisting of a fleshy, juicy exterior (formed by the upgrowth 
of the receptacle), enclosing one or several brittle, horny, one- or two-seeded 
seedcases ; as in the Apple and the Pear. 
