THE CALYX AND COUOLLA. 275 



such composition ; and fhe calyx is said to be dlphyllous, tripJnjUous, 

 tetraphyllous, ■pentaplnjUous, hexaplvjUous, &c., according as it is com- 

 posed of two, three, four, five, or six leaves or sepals respectively. 

 These terms imply that the leaves of the calyx are distinct, or nearly 

 so. When they are luiited into a cup or tube, the calyx was by the 

 earlier botanists incorrectly said to be monopliyllous (literally one- 

 leaved) ; — a term which we continue to use, guarding, ho^vever, 

 against the erroneous idea which its etymology involves, and bearing 

 in mind that the older technical language in botany is founded upon 

 external appearance, and not the real structure, as we now under- 

 stand it. The correct term, calyx gamophylloiis, is now coming into 

 use : this literally expresses the true state of the case, and is equiva- 

 lent to the phrase sepals united ; the degree of coalescence being in- 

 dicated by adding " at the base," " to the middle," or " to the sum- 

 mit," as the case may be. Still, in botanical descriptions, it is usual 

 and ordinarily more convenient to regard the calyx as a whole, and 

 to express the degi-ee of union or separation by the same tei-ms as 

 those Avhich designate the degree of division of the blade of a leaf 

 (281-287) : as, for example. Calyx Jtre-ioot/ied, when the sepals of 

 a pentaphyllous calyx are united almost to the top ; jive-cleft, when 

 united to about the middle ; Jive-parted, Avhen they are sepai-ate 

 almost to the base ; iindjive-lobed, for any degree of division less 

 than tive-pai'ted, without reference to its particular extent. 



oOG. The united portion of a gamopliyllous calyx is called its 

 tube ; the distinct portions of the sepals are termed the teeth, seg- 

 ments, or lobes, according to their length as compared Avith the tube ; 

 and the orifice or summit of the tube is named the throat. The 

 calyx is said to be entire, wlien the leaves of the calyx are so com- 

 l^letely confluent that the margin is continuous and even. The terms 

 regular and irregular (44G, 471) are applied to the calyx or corolla 

 separately, as well as to the whole flower. The counterpart term to 

 calyx monopliyllous or monosepalous, h polyphyllous or polysepalous 

 (viz. of many leaves or sepals). This is equivalent to the phrase 

 sepals distinct ; and does not mean, as the etymology might lead 

 one to suppose, that they are unusually numerous. 



507. The Corolla has corresponding terms applied to its modifica- 

 tions. Wlien its i)etals are distinct or uncomiected, it is said to be 

 polypetahus ; when united, at least at the base, monopetalous, or 

 more propei-ly gamopetcdous, as already explained. Various de- 

 gi-ees of such union are shown in Fig. 450 - 460. The united poi'- 



