VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 39 



as iii the apple and pear. It consists of at least two, but more 

 generally of three distinct parts; the ovary the style and 

 the stigma, or summit. 



The ovary is situated at its lower extremity or base, supporting 

 the style and stigma, and from containing the rudiments of a new 

 plant, has been denominated by Linnaeus, the germ, or germen. 

 In its figure and shape, it varies in different plants ; consisting 

 in some of only one cell, and in others of more, according to the 

 peculiarity of each individual flower. 



The style, which is the middle portion of the pistil, is a 

 prolongation of the substance of the ovary, being terminated at 

 its upper extremity by the summit or stigma, thus forming a line 

 of communication between the two extreme parts. 



The stigma is a small glandular-looking substance, sometimes 

 of a triangular, at other times, of a circular shape, placed at the 

 top of the style, and from which it is also denominated, the 

 summit of the pistil ; as the style may be termed the centre, and 

 the ovary or germ, the base. 



It is upon the arrangement of the stamens and pistils, that 

 Linnaeus has principally formed his system of classification ; the 

 particulars of which may be found in most of our elementary 

 works on botany. Suffice it here to say that the pistil (at its 

 base) is the organ which contains the rudiments of the fruit and 

 future seed ; but which seldom acquires a reproductive property, 

 without the influence of the dust contained in the anther of the 

 stamen ; and which being dropped, by the bursting of the 

 globules, on the stigma, invests the ovary with the requisite 

 fertilizing principle. 



The contents of the ovary being thus called into action, it 

 gradually expands and enlarges, until by its own natural supplies, 

 it is rendered independent of the other parts of the flower ; and 

 these being no longer required, they decay and drop off, and the 

 fruit or pericarp by a progressive increase, is ultimately formed 

 into all its magnitude and perfection. Thus we see the ovary, 

 which in the early stage of growth, exhibited only the appearance 

 of a homogeneous mass of pulpy substance, as it advances in 

 size, displays the rude outline of separate organs, until it reaches 



