300 



THE UNIVERSE. 



a flower may be, each part of it is nevertheless only a re- 

 sult of the metamorphosis of a humble leaf. We are there- 

 fore right in saying that we are stripping the roses of their 

 leaves when tearing off their colored lobes, for each of these 

 is in fact only a transformed leaf. 



When the floral apparatus is complete it is formed of four 

 rosettes, or verticilli, of depressed concentrated leaves. 



167. Petaloid Perianth of the White Lily: Lilium candidum (Linnaeus). 



These leaves are transformed into two kinds of organs. 

 Some become the perianth, the most brilliant part of the 

 flower, a true organ of protection, forming soft swathes for 

 the delicate apparatus which it incloses, and, like a glowing 

 mirror, reflecting heat and light upon them. The others, 

 still further changed, are raised to the dignity of a repro- 

 ductive apparatus. 



Most frequently the perianth is double. Its external en- 



