dehiscence

[Latin dehiscens, pr. par. of *1. Ord. Lang.: A gaping, an opening, a yawning. 2. Bot.: The opening of capsules and of the cells of anthers for the discharge of their contents. This takes place either by clefts, by hinges, or by pores. When the anther-lobes are erect, the cleft takes place lengthwise along the line of the suture, constituting longitudinal dehiscence. At other times the slit takes place in a horizontal manner, from the connective to the side, as in Alchemilla arvensis and in Lemna, where the dehiscence is transverse. When the dehiscence takes place by the ventral and dorsal sutures, as in the legume of the Pea and Bean, it is called sutural. When composed of 1 several united carpels, the valves may separate through the di epiments, so that the fruit will be resolved into its original carpels, as in Rhododendron, Colchicum, . This dehiscence, in consequence of taking place through the jamelle of the sep tum, is called septicidal. Loculicidal dehiscence is where 2 Dehiscence. 1. Dehiscent Anther of Begonia (longitudinal). 2. Dehiscent Anther of Lemna (transverse). 3. Dehiscent Capsule of Hibiscus (loculicidal). the union between the edges of the carpels is per sistent, and they dehisce by the dorsal suture, or through the back of the loculaments, as in the Lily and Iris. Sometimes the fruit opens by the dorsal suture, and at the same time the valves or walls of the ovaries separate from the septa, leaving them attached to the center, as in Datura. This is called septifragal dehiscence, and may be looked upon as a modification of the loculicidal. ( Balfour : Botany, . to the contrary; a counseling against anything. "Did they never read these dehortations ?"-Ward: On Infidelity. ide-hor-ta-tive, a . [Lat. dehort at ( us ), pa. par. of dehort or ; Eng. adj. suff. -ive .] Di uasive, dehortatory. *de-hort-ing, pr. par., a. & s. [DEHORT.] A. & B. As pr. par. & particip. adj.: (See the C. As subst .: The act of di uading; dehortation. "When God desists from his gracious and serious de- dehydracetic acid, s. IMG:content-2058.jpg:[blocks in formation]