INEQUALITY OF SIMILAR PARTS. 



185 



the two lateral next and under the standard, AL.E or WINGS (b) ; 

 the two anterior, covered by the wings and partly cohering to 



346 



form a prow-shaped body (c) , the CARINA or KEEL. The calyx 

 is slightly irregular by unequal union, the two upper sepals 

 united higher than the 

 other three. The sta- 

 mens are much more 

 coalescent, but with an 

 irregularity, nine com- 

 bined b}' the lower part 

 of their filaments, and 

 one (the posterior) 

 separate. (Fig. 345.) 

 339. The plan and 



floral symmetry in the Locust-blossom and 

 its relatives are little obscured by the irregu- 

 larities and the coalescence, hardly more so 

 than in the plainer flower of its relative, 

 Baptisia (Fig. 347, 348), in which the petals are somewhat 

 alike, and the ten stamens are distinct or unconnected. Only 

 the calyx is more irregular, by the union of the two posterior 

 sepals almost to the tip. (Fig. 348.) 



FIG. 342. Diagram of flower of the Locust, Robinia Pseudacacia : a. axis of inflores- 

 cence; b. bract; first circle of 5, calyx; five remaining pieces, corolla; next anthers, 

 10 in number; in the centre a single simple pistil. 343. Front view of Locust-flower 

 showing only the corolla. 344. This corolla displayed. 



FIG. 345. Andrcecinm of the Locust, nine stamens coalescent. one distinct. 346 

 Same of a Lupine, all ten filaments coalescent below into a closed tube. 



FIG. 347. Calyx and corolla of Baptisia australis. 348. Same with petals fallen, 

 showing ten distinct stamens and tip of the style. 



