THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CALYX. 



JLhe term Calyx, like our words, horse, bird, dog, habitation, is a generic word, including 

 several distinct kinds, thus : 



I. Perianth {Perianthiiim), is the outer expanded covering of a flower,... the most common 



kind of Calyx,... usually green,... sometimes coloured,... contiguous to the corolla,... pro- 

 tecting the organs for reproduction in their infant-state,... sometimes caducous,... often 

 abiding with the fruit,... and sometimes even serving the office of pericarp,... usually single, 

 ...occasionally double,... not unfrequently very obscure,... or wholly deficient. 



II. Involucre {Involucrum) , is a calyx remote from the flower,. .. most commonly stationed 

 at the foot of a general, or partial, umbel. 



III. Spathe (Spatha), a species of calyx, which first involves the infant-flowers like a sheath, 

 and then opens longitudinally. 



IV. Glume {Gluma), the outer valves, or husk of corn, or grass, enclosing one, or more, 

 florets. 



V. Ament {Amentmn), small chaffy scales, protecting the florets placed on a thread-like 

 common receptacle. 



VI. Calyptra {Calyptra), the covering of a moss, placed over it, like a cap or bonnet. 



VII. VoLVE (Voka), a membrane, which involves the fungus in its infant-state, and which 

 afterwards appears in a lacerated form on the foot-stalk. 



Botanical Terms^ applicable to the Calyx. 



Peculiar {Proprius), belonging to a single flower.. ..Common {Communis), common to 

 several flowers. ...Beneath {Inferus), placed beneath the Germen.... Above (Superus), above 

 the Germen.... Monophyllous {Monophyllus), consisting of one leaf ...Diphyllous {Di- 

 phyllus), of two leaves.... Triphyllous {Triphylliis), of three leaves.. ..Tetraphyllous {Tetra- 

 phyllus), of four leaves, and so on to Polyphyllous {Poly phyllus), composed of many leaves. 

 ...Intire {Integer), having the border, or edge of the leaf even.. ..Toothed {Dentatus), cut 

 into teeth. ...Partite {Partitus), divided into segments.... Reflexed {Reflexus), bent back.... 

 Imbricated {Imbricatus) , having the leaves placed over one another like the tiles of a house. 



* All or most of these terms are illustrated in our " Picturesque Botanical Plates," and are more fully explained in our " Philosophy of 

 Botany." 



