86 



THE FLOWER. 



[LESSON 12. 



231. Taking them in succession, therefore, beginning from below, 

 or at the outside, we have (Fig. 168, 169), first, the calyx or outer 



circle of leaves, which are individually 

 termed sepals (a) ; secondly, the corolla 

 or inner circle of delicate leaves, called 

 petals (I)) ; then a set of stamens (c) ; 

 and in the centre one or more pistils (d). 

 The end of the flower-stalk, or the short 

 axis, upon which all these parts stand, is 

 called the Torus or Receptacle. 



232. We use here for illus- 

 tration the flower of a spe- 

 cies of Stonecrop (Sedum ter- 

 natum), which is a com- 

 mon plant wild in the Middle 

 States, and in gardens almost 

 everywhere, because, al- 

 though small, it exhibits all 



the parts in a perfectly simple and separate state, and so answers for 

 a sort of pattern flower, better than any larger one that is common 



c and well known. 



233. A Stamen consists of two parts, 

 namely, the Filament or stalk (Fig. 170, 

 a), and the Anther (&). The latter is 

 a the only essential part. It is a case, 

 commonly with two lobes or cells, each 

 opening lengthwise by a slit, at the 

 proper time, and discharging a pow- 

 der or dust-like substance, usually of a yellow color. This powder 

 is the Pollen, or fertilizing matter, to produce which is the sole office 

 of the stamen. 



234. A Pistil is distinguished into three parts ; namely, beginning 

 from below, the Ovary, the Style, and the Stigma. The Ovary is 

 the hollow case or young pod (Fig. 171, ), containing rudimentary 

 seeds, called Ovules (d). Fig. 172, representing a pistil like that of 



FIG. 168. Flower of a Stonecrop : Sedum ternatum. 



FIG. 1C9. Two parts of each kind of the same flower, displayed and enlarged. 



FIG. 170. A stamen : a, the filament ; J, the anther, discharging pollen. 



FIG. 171. A pistil divided lengthwise, showing the interior of the ovary, a, and its 



ovules, d ; b, the style ; c, stigma. 



FIG. 172. A pistil, enlarged ; the ovary cut across to show the ovules witliiu. 



FIG. 173. " Double " Rose ; the essential organs all replaced by petals. 



170 



