INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY. Xill 
106. The number of carpels or ovaries in a flower is frequently reduced below 
that of the parts of the other floral whorls, even in flowers otherwise symmetrical. 
In a comparatively small number of genera the carpels are more numerous than the 
petals, or indefinite; in these cases they are either arranged in a single whorl, or 
form a head or spike in the centre of the flower, as in the buttercup and anemone. 
107. The terms monogynous, digynous, &c., polygynous (1, 2, or many ovaries) are 
vaguely used, applying sometimes to the whole pistil, sometimes to the carpels 
alone, and sometimes to the styles or stigmas. When a more precise nomenclature 
is used, the flower is monocarpellary, when the pistil consists of a single, simple car- 
pel ; br, tri-, &c., or poly-carpellary, when the pistil consists of 2, 3, or many car- 
pels, whether separate or united. 
108. A pistil is syncarpous when the carpels are united into one compound ovary ; 
apocarpous, when the carpels are free or separate. 
109. A compound ovary is, 
unilocular or one-celled, when there are no partitions between the ovules, or 
when the partitions do not meet, so as to divide the cavity into several 
chambers. _ 
plurilocular or several-celled, when completely divided into two or more cells 
by partitions called dissepiments (septa). These dissepiments are usually 
vertical, radiating from the centre or axis of the ovary to its circum- 
ference. 
bi- tri- quadri, &e. or multi-locular, according to the number of the cells or 
loculi, 2, 3, 4, or many. 
110. In general the number of cells or dissepiments, complete or partial, or of 
rows of ovules, corresponds with that of the carpels, of which the ovary is com- 
posed. But sometimes each carpel is divided completely or partially into two cells, 
or has two rows of ovules, so that the number of carpels appears double what it 
really is. Sometimes, again, the carpels are so completely combined as to form a 
: single cell, with a single ovule, although it really consists of several carpels ; but in 
these cases the ovary is generally described as it appears, as well as such as it is 
theoretically supposed to be. 
111. In apocarpous ovaries the styles are usually free, each bearing its own 
stigma ; very rarely (as in Asclepiadee) the larger portion of the styles or the stigmas 
alone are united, while the carpels remain separate. 
112. Syncarpous flowers are said to have 
several styles, when the styles are free from the base. 
one style, with several branches, when the styles are connected at the base, but 
separate below the point where the stigmas or stigmatic surfaces com- 
mence. 
one simple style, with several stigmas, when united up to the point where the 
igmas or stigmatic surfaces commence, and then separating. —__ 
one simple style, with branched, lobed, toothed, notched, or entire stigma (a8 the 
we ~ ease may be) when the stigmas also are more or less united or sub- 
| vabsiy ber of styles, or of Viciaicielsal Spl Ue'nAlgmen is the 
118. In general the number of styles, or of branches of the style or stigmas, | 
came as that of the carpels, but sometimes that number is doubled, especially in the 
x stigmas, and sometimes the stigmas are much sub-divided or penicillate, that is, 
q divided into a tuft of hair-like branches, as in some species of Drosera. , 
‘ 114. An entire stigma is said to be punctiform when it appears like the mere point 
of the style ; capitate, when globular, like the head of a pin. : 
115. The placenta’is the part of the inside of the ovary to which ovules are at- 
tached, sometimes a mere point or line on the inner surface, often more or less 
thickened or raised. Placentation therefore is the indication of the part of the ovary 
to which ovules are attached. 
116. lacentas , : 
es Bick er ttin cha ores are attached to the axis or centre, that is, in pluri- 
locular ovaries, when they are attached to the inner angle of the cell ; 
in uni-locular simple ovaries (which have almost always an excentrical 
style or stigma) when the ovules are attached to that side of the ovary 
nearest to the style; in uni-locular compound ovaries, when the ovules 
are attached to a central axis, cushion, or column, rising up from the 
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