92 
PLANT MORPHOLOGY. 
by it ; achenes may be inferior, as in the Compositae, 
where the calyx persists; or they may he superior, as in 
the rose, where they are free from the calyx ; or they may 
be imbedded in a fleshy receptacle, as in the strawberry. 
A Berry is a fleshy, indehiscent fruit, the seeds of 
which are imbedded in a sarcocarp ; berries are superior 
when free from the calyx, as in belladonna, capsicum, 
grape, etc., and inferior when there is an adnation of 
the calyx, as in banana, cranberry and gooseberry. 
A Capsule is a dry, dehiscent fruit, consisting of 
two or more carpels. Dehiscence in capsules may 
occur in five different ways : in the castor-bean the 
c irpels separate from each other along the walls or 
septa (dissepiments), the seeds being discharged along 
the ventral suture of the separated carpels, and this 
mode of dehiscence is called septicidal. In mustard, 
the dissepiments remain intact and dehiscence occurs 
along the margin of the capsule, and is therefore called 
marginicidal ; but as the partial carpels, or valves as 
they are termed, separate from the walls or septa, the 
dehiscence is also known as septifragal. In cardamom 
the septa as well as valves are united, and at maturity 
the latter separate and dehisce at points in the margin 
corresponding to the mid-vein of the modified leaf or 
carpel, the cells or loculi being broken into ; this form 
of indehiscence is known as loculicidal.. In poppy 
capsules there are a few openings beneath the united 
stigmas through which the seeds are expelled, and 
this form of dehiscence is known as porous.. In liyos- 
cyamus a portion of the capsule comes off from the 
remainder like a lid, and this form of dehiscence being 
irregular or abnormal to the sutures of the carpel, it is 
called circuracissile. A capsule of this kind is known 
as a Pyxis. 
A Caryopsis, or Grain, is an indehiscent, non-fleshy 
