VI] EPIGYNOUS FLOWER 53 



flower in such a way that, first, all the five petal-pro- 

 tuberances are raised as mere pimples by the common 

 growth of their bases as a closed ring, and, secondly, 

 the stamens grow up inserted on the inside wall of this 

 tube. 



Next we find another wall-like ring or rim arising 

 inside the ring of stamens, and this gradually roofs in the 

 depressed apex of the flower, on which a single ovule now 

 originates. 



Reference to the figures of the Apple (Fig. 27), Pear 

 (Fig. 131), Pyrus Aria (Fig. 133), Gooseberry (Fig. 135) 

 and other epigynous flowers will help to explain how it is 

 this apex becomes relatively more and more sunk. Not 

 only is there growth upwards of the various protuberances 

 to form the corolla, stamens and carpels, but the com- 

 mon basal portions of all these grow up together as a 

 common ring elevating the apparent origin of all these 

 parts to a level considerably above the original apex of 

 the flower, which they then roof over and enclose as in 

 a box. 



Another noteworthy point in this Composite flower is 

 the suppression of the calyx, which does not advance 

 beyond the condition of a mere rim : in allied plants, 

 however, e.g. the Sunflower, five slender sepals arise at 

 this ring, after the corolla, stamens and carpels, and are 

 thus deferred in development. 



In the case of many Roses and their allies, the sinking 

 of the apex is even more obvious, because several distinct 

 carpels are developed on the floral bed, and the rising up 

 all round of the circumvallate ring of tissue (calyx-tube) 

 which carries up the developing sepals, petals and stamens, 

 is very characteristic. This is well shown in the various 

 stages described in Fig. 16. 



In many such plants, indeed, the wall of the calyx- 



