170 INFERIOR OVARY. [CH. XIII 



This, however, would not be the correct way of 

 describing the architecture of the flower. 



In reality the cup is the axis or receptacle of the 

 flower which assumes this remarkable form. The hol- 

 lowing out of the receptacle brings the points of origin of 

 the calyx, petals and stamens above the ovary, reminding 

 the observer of the state of things in the florets of the 

 dog-daisy. If the edges of the cup in figs. 76, 77 were 

 brought together, the ovary would be contained in a 

 cloced cavity instead of an open cup, and the calyx, corolla 

 and stamens would spring from the roof of the cavity. 

 We should then have a flower like that of the Madder 

 shown in fig. 78, which only differs from our imaginary 



Fm. 78. 



FLOWER OF MADDER (Eubia tinctorum), 



divided longitudinally to illustrate an inferior ovary. 



From Le Maout and Decaisne. 



case in this : that the space between the ovary and the 

 enclosing walls of the closed cup has disappeared, or in 

 other words the walls of the hollowed-out receptacle have 

 coalesced with the walls of the ovary. What is here 

 described as an imaginary case is believed to have really 



