58 HYPOGYNY [CH. 



Nevertheless these cases are exceptional, and the rule 

 is that the floral axis is shortened up, and provides room 

 for the insertion of the organs by growth in some other 

 direction than apical elongation. It is owing to this that 

 we find the receptacle in most flowers swollen, or dilated, 

 or even hollowed in some way : e.g. in the Buttercup, 

 Potentilla and Rose respectively. This vertical condensa- 

 tion, or dilation, of the floral axis, by the early cessation 

 of apical growth, is one of the first principles to be appre- 

 hended in the study of the flower. 



Perhaps the next principle in order of importance 

 is a direct consequence of the crowding of the young 

 organs, owing to the paucity of room at their insertions 

 in their incipient condition. 



In the typically spiral (acyclic) and hemicyclic flowers 

 mentioned above, all the parts, carpels, stamens, petals 

 and sepals, are inserted separately and free from one 

 another, and from neighbouring organs, on the floral axis 

 or receptacle ; and we notice that the petals and stamens 

 especially are distinctly inserted separately on the true 

 floral axis, and on a level below that of the insertion 

 of the carpels e.g. the Buttercup, Magnolia, Poppy, 

 Barberry, Wallflower, Catch fly, Geranium, &c. (Fig. 17). 

 In such flowers, where the stamens and petals are dis- 

 tinctly inserted beneath the gynoecium, on the floral axis, 

 the latter are said to be hypogynous ; and it is of great 

 importance for the student to clearly understand the 

 significance of this term in the organography of the 

 flower, owing to its practical application in the study of 

 systematic botany in the field. 



Hypogyny means, then, in its complete sense, that room 

 exists for each stamen and petal, and even sepal, to be 

 separately inserted in the floral axis in serial order, from 

 above downwards, and all taking origin beneath the pistil. 



