Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ...ovary in such a manner that the sepals and petals are attached to its upper part. Such flowers are said to be superior, and the ovary is inferior. In flowers like those of the peach, cherry, blackberry, and bean the calyx is attached to the base of the pistil. These flowers are inferior, and the ovary is superior. Fruits developed from inferior ovaries contain part of the receptacle and calyx. Those developed from superior ovaries do not contain any part of the calyx but may contain a part of the receptacle. The flesh of fleshy fruits is eaten by birds and animals. The seeds are often bitter, and are usually not eaten. If they are they usually pass through the body undigested. The seeds of many berries are scattered over wide areas in this way by birds. In your walks through the country note the large number of plants bearing fleshy fruits that are found along fence rows. How did they get there? The Simple Fleshy Fruits may be discussed under five heads as follows: berry, pepo, hesperidium, pome, and drupe. Berries, botanically speaking, are of two kinds: those that contain part of the calyx; as the gooseberry, currant, huckleberry, and banana; and those that do not contain any part of the calyx; as the tomato, grape, and persimmon. The berry is rather thin skinned, and contains several or many seeds. It is usually a fleshy, compound or many loculed ovary. The pepo occurs in the family Cucurbitace: and includes the following: cucumbers, melons, gourds, squashes, and pumpkins. It results from the development of an inferior ovary; and may be solid as in the watermelon, or hollow as in the muskmelon. The hesperidium is a thick-walled, many-carpelled ovary. Oranges and lemons are examples. Both the pepo and hesperidium are special...