8-1 



HO']' ANY FOK BL(JlNNi;K3. 



[Ch. XIV. 



Fig. 58. 



338. JOth. Ament, or catkin, is an as- 

 semblage of flowers, composed of scales 

 and stamens, arranged along a common, 

 thread-like receptacle, as in the Chestnut 

 and Willow; this is more particularly de 

 scribed under the divisions of the calyx. 

 The scales of the ament are properly the 

 calyxes ; the whole aggregate, including 

 scales, stamens or pistils, and filiform re- 

 ceptacle^ constitutes the ament. 



339. At Fig. 58. is the representation 

 of the ament of the Poplar, containing pis- 

 tillate flowers ; this is oblong, loosely im- 

 bricated, and cylindrical ; the calyx is a 

 fiat scale, with deep fringed partings. At 

 6, is an enlarged representation of the fer- 

 tile or pistillate flower : the calyx or bract 



^ is a little below the corolla, which is cup- 

 shaped, of one petal, and crowned with an 

 egg-shaped, pointed gerrn ; the germ is superior, and bears four 

 (sometimes eight) stigmas. 



340. The staminate ament of the Poplar resembles the pis 

 dilate, except that its corolla encloses eight stamens but no pis- 

 til. The Poplar is in the class Dioecia, (or two houses,) because 

 the pistillate and staminate flowers are on different trees, and oi 

 the order Octanclria, because its barren flowers have eight sta- 

 mens. 



338. What is an ament 1 



339. What does Fig. 58 represent 1 



340. Why is the Poplar in the class Diaecia, orc'e* Octand \a ? 



