=5.= AGRIMONIEÆ. The receptacle is more or less cup- or bell-shaped,
and almost closed at the mouth; it is persistent and envelopes the
_nut-like fruitlets_, but is _dry_, and in some species hard, the
fruitlets being firmly attached to it. In biological connection
with this the number of the carpels is generally only 1 or 2, and
the whole becomes a _false nut_ (Fig. 500). Herbs.--_Agrimonia_
(Agrimony; Figs. 499, 500); the perianth is 5-merous, stamens 5–20.
The receptacle bears externally, on the upper surface, a number of
hooked bristles which serve as a means of distribution for the 1–2
achenes which are enclosed in it, and hence the entire flower finally
falls off. The inflorescence is a long upright raceme. ~These bristles
are arranged in whorls of 5 and 10, of which the uppermost alternate
with the sepals.~--_Alchemilla_ (Ladies-mantle; Fig. 501) has 8 green
perianth-leaves in two whorls (some authorities consider the four outer
as an epicalyx, and the flower therefore apetalous), and 4 stamens
_alternating with the innermost whorl_. There is only one carpel with a
_basal_ style and capitate stigma. The flowers are small and greenish,
the filaments jointed. The anthers open by one extrorse cleft. The
leaf-sheath entirely envelops the stem; the leaves are palminerved.
_A. aphanes_ has often only 1–2 stamens. ~The following genera, with
4-merous flowers borne in short spikes or capitula, are allied to this
group. _Sanguisorba_ has entomophilous, ☿-flowers with 4(-20) stamens,
1 carpel; stigma papillose.--_Poterium_; spike or capitulum, the
uppermost flowers are ♀, the lowermost ♂, and some intermediate ones ☿
(the order of opening is not always centripetal); S4, P0, A20–30, G2,
the long styles having brush-like stigmas (wind-pollination). Leaves
imparipinnate.~
[Illustration: FIG. 501.--Flower of _Alchemilla_ in longitudinal
section.]
POLLINATION. A yellow ring on the inner side of the receptacle,
inside the stamens, serves as a nectary when any honey
is formed; this, for instance, is not the case in _Rosa,
Agrimonia_, _Spiræa ulmaria_, _S. filipendula_, _S. aruncus_,
etc., to which the insects (especially flies and bees) are
allured by the quantity of pollen. Homogamy and slight
protogyny are frequent, in many instances self-pollination
also is finally possible. _Poterium_, with the long-haired
stigma, is wind-pollinated.--About 550 (1100?) species,
especially in northern temperate regions.--USES. OFFICINAL:
the petals of _Rosa centifolia_ and _gallica_, the fruits of
the Raspberry (_Rubus idæus_), the rhizome of _Geum urbanum_,
the flowers of the Koso-tree (_Hagenia abyssinica_ or _Brayera
anthelmintica_).--The bark of _Quillaja saponaria_ (Chili) is
used as soap and contains _saponin_. “Attar of Roses” from
_Rosa damascena_, _centifolia_ and other species, especially
from the southern slopes of the Balkans. Many species and
varieties of Roses are ORNAMENTAL plants: from S. Europe, _Rosa
lutea_ (the Yellow Rose), _R. gallica_ (the French Rose) and
_R. rubrifolia_; from W. Asia, _R. centifolia_, of which the
Moss Roses (_R. muscosa_ and _cristata_) are varieties, and _R.
damascena_; from India and N. Africa, _R. moschata_ (the Musk
Rose); from China, _R. indica_ (Tea Rose) etc., besides the
native species and the varieties which have been derived from
them. In addition, _Kerria japonica_, species of _Potentilla_,
_Rubus odoratus_ from N. Am., and many species of _Spiræa_ from
South-eastern Europe and N. Am. ESCULENT: the “hips” of _R.
mollissima_, _R. pomifera_, etc.; the fruits of _Rubus_-species:
Raspberry (_R. idæus_), Cloudberry (_R. chamæmorus_), Blackberry
(_R. fruticosus_), etc.; of _Fragaria_-species (_F. vesca_,
_collina_, _grandiflora_, etc).
Order 2. =Amygdalaceæ.= Trees or shrubs with rosaceous flowers;
leaves simple with caducous stipules; a regular, _perigynous_ flower,
the receptacle being partly thrown off by a circular slit; sepals
5, petals 5, stamens 20–30; _gynœceum simple, formed of 1 carpel_
(hence oblique, Fig. 502), with terminal style and 2 pendulous ovules,
ripening into a _drupe_ (Fig. 503).--The leaves are penninerved and
frequently have _glands_ on the stalks and edges; _thorns_ (modified
branches) often occur, _i.e._ dwarf-branches, which, after producing
a few leaves, terminate their growth in a thorn (_e.g._ _Prunus
spinosa_). ~The vernation of the _foliage-leaves_ varies in the
different genera; in the Almond, Peach, Cherry, and Bird-Cherry they
are folded; in the Apricot, Plum, Sloe and Bullace, rolled together. In
some the flowers unfold before the leaves (_Amygdalus_, _Armeniaca_).
That the gynœceum is formed of 1 carpel is evident in this as in other
instances (_e.g._ in the Leguminosæ, which are closely related to this
order), from the fact that the carpel is oblique, and has only one
plane of symmetry, and similarly in the fruit there is a longitudinal
groove on one side which indicates the ventral suture. It is only
exceptionally that both ovules are developed. In abnormal instances
more than 1 carpel is developed.~
[Illustration: FIG. 502.--Diagram of _Prunus virginiana_.]
=A.= FRUIT HAIRY: _Amygdalus_ (_A. communis_, Almond-tree) has a dry
pulp which is detached irregularly, when ripe, from the wrinkled,
grooved, ovoid and somewhat compressed stone.--_Persica_ (_P.
vulgaris_, Peach-tree) differs from the Almond in having a juicy pulp,
not detachable from the stone, which is deeply grooved and has pits
in the grooves (Fig. 503). (~The name of the genus is derived from
Persia, though it is a native of China.~).--_Armeniaca_ (_A. vulgaris_,
Apricot) has a hairy, velvety fruit, but the stone is smooth and has
two ribs along one of the edges; the pulp is juicy. (~The generic name
has been given on the incorrect assumption that it was a native of
Armenia; its home is China.~)
[Illustration: FIG. 503.--Fruit of the Peach. The pulp is cut
through so that the stone is visible.]
=B.= FRUIT GLABROUS (_i.e._ without hairs): _Prunus_ (Plum) has a
glabrous fruit with bluish bloom; the stone is compressed, smooth or
wrinkled. The flowers are borne solitarily or in couples, and open
before or at the same time as the leaves; they are borne on shoots
without foliage-leaves.--_Cerasus_ (Cherry) has a glabrous, spherical
fruit, without bloom, and a spherical stone. The flowers are situated
in 2–many-flowered umbels or racemes, and open at the same time as the
leaves or a little before them. ~_Long-stalked_ flowers in _umbels_
are found in _C. avium_ (Wild Cherry), _C. vulgaris_ (the cultivated
Cherry, from Western Asia); _racemes_ at the apex of leaf-bearing
branches and small spherical fruits are found in _C. padus_ (Bird
Cherry), _C. virginiana_, _C. laurocerasus_ (Cherry-laurel), _C.
mahaleb_.~
POLLINATION. _Prunus spinosa_ (Sloe, Blackthorn) is protogynous,
but the stamens are developed before the stigma withers. Honey
is secreted by the receptacle. _Cerasus padus_ (Bird-Cherry)
agrees in some measure with _P. spinosa_. In the flowers of
the Plum and Cherry the stamens and stigma are developed
simultaneously and self pollination seems general; the
stigma, however, overtops the inner stamens and thus promotes
cross-pollination.--DISTRIBUTION. 114 species in the N. Temp,
zone; few in the warmer regions; the majority from W. Asia. _C.
vulgaris_, from the regions of the Caspian; _Prunus spinosa_,
_insititia_ (Bullace), _domestica_ (Plum, from the Caucasus,
Persia).--USES, principally as fruit-trees: Cherry, Plum,
Apricot, etc.; “Almonds” are the seeds of _Amygdalus communis_
(W. Mediterranean), “bitter,” “sweet,” and “shell” almonds are
from different varieties, the latter being remarkable for the
thin, brittle stone. In the majority of species and in almost
all parts of the plant (especially the bark, seed and leaves)
is found the glycoside, _amygdalin_, which forms prussic acid.
Many form _gum_, and the seeds have _fatty oils_ (“Almond
oil”). OFFICINAL: the seeds and oil of _Amygdalus communis_,
and the fruit of the Cherry; in other countries also the leaves
of _C. laurocerasus_.--The stems of _Cerasus mahaleb_ are
used for pipes. Ornamental Shrubs: _Amygdalus nana_, _Cerasus
laurocerasus_.
Order 3. _Chrysobalanaceæ._ Tropical Amygdalaceæ with
zygomorphic flower and gynobasic style. 200 species; especially
Am. and Asia. _Chrysobalanus icaco_ (Cocoa-plum) is cultivated
on account of its fruit (Am.)
Order 4. =Pomaceæ.= Trees and shrubs, most frequently with simple
leaves and caducous stipules. The flowers (Fig. 505) have 5 sepals, 5
petals and generally 20 stamens (10 + 5 + 5, or 10 + 10 + 5). There are
from 1–5 _carpels_, which unite entirely or to some extent with each
other, and with the hollow, fleshy receptacle (the _flower_ becoming
_epigynous_), (Figs. 505, 506, 507). The carpels are nearly always
free on the ventral sutures, rarely free at the sides also. The whole
outer portion of the fruit becomes fleshy, but the portions of the
pericarp surrounding the loculi (endocarp) are most frequently formed
of sclerenchymatous cells, and are more or less firm (the “core”). The
nature of the fruit varies, according to the thickness and hardness
of the endocarp, being either a “berry” or a “drupe” (see _A_ and
_B_). When the endocarp is thin and parchment-like, the fruit has the
characteristics of a berry, each of the 5 loculi generally present
containing several seeds; but when this is hard the fruit resembles a
drupe, only one seed is developed in each loculus, and the number of
the loculi is reduced to one or two. There are nearly always 2 ovules
in the loculi of the ovary, but in _Cydonia_ there are a large number
in 2 rows. In the genera which have stones, only one seed is developed
in each stone. The genera are distinguished mainly in accordance with
the kind of fruit and the number of ovules and seeds.
[Illustration: FIG. 504.--Longitudinal and transverse section
through the flowers of _A_, _B_ _Cotoneaster_; _C_ _Cydonia_;
_D_ _Malus communis_; _E_ _Raphiolepis_; _F_ _Cydonia_; _G_
_Mespilus_.]
[Illustration: FIG. 505.--Floral diagram of _Mespilus germanica_.]
=A.= SORBEÆ. THE ENDOCARP IS PARCHMENT-LIKE OR PAPERY (drupe, with thin
stone or berry).
1. _Pyrus_ and _Cydonia_; carpels completely embedded in the cup-like
receptacle, styles always free.--_Pyrus_: the fruit is glabrous,
and has only a small calyx, withering or deciduous, and a 5-locular
ovary with at most 2 ascending ovules in each loculus (Fig. 504
_D_). The large flowers are situated in few-flowered umbels or
corymbs. ~_P. communis_ (Pear; free styles, Fig. 507; it has the
well-known pear-shaped fruit; the core is reduced to several groups
of sclerenchymatous cells embedded in the pulp, the leaf-stalk is as
long as the blade).~--_Cydonia_ (Quince) has a hairy fruit with _many
seeds in 2 rows_ in each loculus of the endocarp (Figs. 504 _C_, _F_;
506); the testa of these seeds is mucilaginous. _C. vulgaris_, large,
terminal flowers on lateral branches, and large leaf-like, persistent
sepals.
[Illustration: FIG. 506.--_Cydonia vulgaris._ Longitudinal
section of fruit.]
[Illustration: FIG. 507.--Longitudinal section of Pear flower.]
2. _Malus_ and _Amelanchier_ (_Aronia_); carpels free on the ventral
edge; styles united. _Malus communis_ (Apple) the fruit is “umbilicate”
at the base; no sclerenchymatous cells in the pulp; styles united at
the base (Fig. 504 _D_); leaf-stalk shorter than the blade. _Sorbus_
(Mountain-ash) differs only in having a 2–3-locular fruit with
extremely thin endocarp. Cymose inflorescences in umbellate cymes.
~_S. aucuparia_ has pinnate leaves, _S. aria_ (White-beam) and other
species have simple leaves.--_Amelanchier_ (the Service-tree) has a
false divisional wall springing from the dorsal suture, and more or
less projecting into each of the loculi of the ovary; _Raphiolepis_
(Fig. 504 _E_) has racemes and a juicy berry; _Eriobotrya japonica_
(Loquat).~
=B.= CRATÆGEÆ. THE ENDOCARP IS HARD AND BONY (“drupes,” generally
with several, sometimes, however, with only 1–2 stones, rarely one
multilocular stone; only 1 seed in each of the loculi).--_Cratægus_
(Hawthorn, May). There are 1–5 stones in the spherical or ovoid fruit.
The disc, found on the apex of the fruit, inside the small, withered
calyx, is small (much less than the transverse section of the fruit).
Shrubs with thorns (branches) and moderately large flowers borne in
corymbs.--_Mespilus_ (Medlar) differs from the last-named only in
having a _large disc_ at the apex of the fruit, inside the large,
_leaf-like sepals_, _i.e._ almost equal to the greatest diameter of the
fruit. The flowers are solitary and terminal.--_Cotoneaster_ is chiefly
distinguished from the others by its syncarps, the 2–5 carpels (and
stones) being free from one another, and only united to the receptacle
by a larger or smaller portion of their dorsal surface (Figs. 504 _A_,
_B_). Small shrubs with leathery leaves, generally covered with white,
felted hairs on the lower surface, and with small flowers; the fruit is
red or black.
Pear, Apple, Mountain Ash and Hawthorn have protogynous
flowers which secrete honey, and are conspicuous to ensure
insect pollination.--180 species; in the northern temperate
regions.--Pear and Apple are especially cultivated as fruit
trees in a number of varieties; the Paradise Apple (_Pyrus
baccata_); especially in southern countries also the Quince
(from N. Persia and the Caucasian districts), Medlar and
_Amelanchier vulgaris_. _Malus pumila_ (Caucasus,
Altai) and _M. dasyphylla_ (Orient, S. Eur.) are regarded
as primitive forms of the Apple-tree; _M. sylvestris_,
which grows wild in European forests, appears to have been less
used. The early Lake-dwellers in Switzerland had the apple-tree
both wild and cultivated.--The original form of the Pear is
supposed to be _Pyrus achras_ (Central Asia).--Many of
the species of _Cratægus_, some with double flowers, and
_Pyrus (Chænomeles) japonica_, with brilliant red flowers,
are cultivated as ornamental shrubs. OFFICINAL: Quince
pips, on account of the mucilaginous testa.--The fruits contain
free organic acids and sugar; prussic acid may be obtained from
the seeds. The wood of the Pear-tree is used in manufactures.