Fig. 395. Capsule of Iris, with loculicidal dehiscence; below, cut across.
Fig. 396. Pod of a Marsh St. John's-wort, with septicidal dehiscence.
[371.] Regular Dehiscence in a capsule takes place in two ways, which are best illustrated in pods of two or three cells. It is either
Loculicidal, or, splitting directly into the loculi or cells, that is, down the back (or the dorsal suture) of each cell or carpel, as in Iris (Fig. [395]); or
Septicidal, that is, splitting through the partitions or septa, as in St. John's-wort (Fig. [396]), Rhododendron, etc. This divides the capsule into its component carpels, which then open by their ventral suture.
Fig. 397, 398. Diagrams of the two modes.
Fig. 399. Diagram of septifragal dehiscence of the loculicidal type. 400. Same of the septicidal or marginicidal type.