A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Sphalerocarpium,-ii (s.n.II), abl. sg. sphalerocarpio: “a bony one-seeded, seed-vessel, inclosed in a fleshy cup, not belonging to the pericarp” (Lindley); see aril [> Gk. sphaleros,-a,-on (adj.A), “likely to make one stumble or trip; slippery, perilous, treacherous > sphallW: to make to trip, to overthrow by tripping up].

“In the Yew (Taxus baccata) and other plants belonging to the Taxaceas, an order closely allied to the Coniferae and Cycadacese, the so-called fruit is in reality not a fruit at all, as it consists simply, as demonstrated by Sir Joseph Hooker, of a naked seed, surrounded, except at the apex, by a fleshy cup or aril. This so-called fruit has been termed a Sphaerocarpium. Properly speaking, even if regarded as a fruit, it does not belong to the class of Collective fruits at all, as it is formed of but a single flower. We have placed it here, following Lindley's arrangement, and because, like the two preceding fruits [Cone and Galbulus], its essential character consists in its naked seed. Some other fruits are, however, included by Lindley and others with this under the name of Sphalerocarpium.” (Bentley).