A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Epicarp (Eng.noun) , exocarp, the outermost tissue layer of the fruit wall of a pericarp or matured ovary; “the outermost layer of the pericarp, corresponding with the under side of the carpellary leaf” (Lindley): epicarpium,-ii (s.m.II), abl. sg. epicarpio, nom. & acc. pl. epicarpia, dat. & abl. pl. epicarpiis; exocarpium,-ii (s.n.II), abl. sg. exocarpio, nom. & acc. pl. exocarpia, dat. & abl.pl. exocarpiis; see mesocarp, pericarp; cf. endocarp, innermost tissue layer of a pericarp

- epicarpiis [or: exocarpiis] praeter glandulos raros glabris, with the epicarpia except for scattered glandules glabrous.

- drupa 2-3-pyrena, epicarpio suberoso sicco pulvere atro v. rubro farcto (B&H); drupe 2-3-pyrenous, with a corky epicarp, when dry packed with a black or red powder.

- siliqua late ovoideo-oblonga, utrinque obtusa, epicarpio spongioso, endocarpio osseo. (B&H), the silique broadly ovoid-oblong, on both sides obtuse, with the epicarp spongy, the endocarp boney.

- fructus varius, sapissime baccatus coriaceus v. drupaceus; cocci intus dehiscentes, simplices v. epicarpio coriaceo ab endocarpio corneo v. chartaceo elastice 2-valvi soluto, endocarpii basi saepe semini adhaerente et cum eo secedente (B&H), the fruit is variable, most often baccate, leathery or drupaceous; cocci inside dehiscent, simple or with a leathery epicarp, from the horny or papery endocarp 2-valved elastically broken up, with the base of the endocarp often adherent to the seed and with it separating.

- epicarpio membranaceo, endocarpio soluto crustaceo (B&H), with the epicarp membanaceous, with the endocarp broken up, crustaceous.

- drupae parvae, anthracinae, lucidae, epicarpio punctato (B&H), drupes, small, coal-black, shining, with the epicarp dotted.

- epicarpio tenui ab endocarpio chartaceo secedente.(B&H) with the epicarp thin, splitting from the papery endocarp.

- leguminis valvarum exocarpium inflatum, endocarpium planum (B&H), the exocarp of the valves of the legume inflated, the endocarp flat.

- leguminis exocarpio inflato insignem (B&H), distinguished by the exocarp of the legume inflated.

- endocarpio circa semina persistente ab exocarpio secedente (B&H), with the endocarp around the seeds persistent, splitting from the exocarp.

- legumen rectum, planum, tenue, exocarpio continuo 2-valvi, endocarpio solo in artículos l-spermos secedente et circa semina persistente(B&H), legume straight, flat, thin, with a continuous 2-valved exocarp, with the endocarp alone splitting into 1-seeded joints and persistent around the seeds.

NOTE: Bentham and Hooker appear to use exocarp for the Leguminosae (Fabaceae).

“When we speak of the situation of the germen [i.e. ovary], we must be understood to mean its situation with respect to the calyx, for there may be, instances of the germen beiug encircled by the calyx, and yet being situated below the corolla. It is only in absence of the calyx that the situation is determined by the other parts. Germen superum is also expressed by Flos epicarpius, or Flos superus; and Germen inferum by Flos hypocarpius, or Flos inferus.” (Willdenow).