282 



THE PLANT WORLD. 



Fig. so. O. versicolor, with yellow, 

 brown or majenta flowers. 



specimens can be made by cutting off the top of the ovary just 

 below the outer petals or, better still, in many cases just below 

 the upper leaves on the ovary. The flower is then put in press 

 face down. Of course, this cuts off many of the stamens and 

 the style is severed in every instance, but the relation of the 

 style to the ovary is best shown in longitudinal sections, which 

 should also be made. If the flower is not too deep, simply 



pressing back the petals a 

 little is all the preparation 

 that the flower needs afte- 

 being removed from the 

 ovary. When the species is 

 one with a deep flower the 

 specimens will not stay put, 

 but will buckle in the center 

 when pressure is removed, 

 and when it is restored again 

 the petals will be wrinkled 

 and doubled. In this case 

 it will be advantageous to cut the flower from the center out- 

 ward at a single point, giving it a chance to spread outward 

 into a segment of a circle. A few extra pistils should always be 

 put up, for they are likely to be severely mashed by the heavy 

 pressure given the other parts. Unless the material is abundant, 

 flowers should always be mounted upon the herbarium sheets in 

 envelopes so that both sides can be readily examined. Contrary 

 to what was said about the joints, it \\ill be found better not to 

 examine or disturb the sheets between which the flowers are 

 placed until they are fairly well dried, because when wilted the 

 petals do not lend themselves well to handling and if once out of 

 position it is very difficult to restore them again to their proper 

 shape. Neither do they require as much pressure as the joints. 

 Care should be taken never to allow one flower to overlap another 

 in press, for when dried they can not be properly separated. 

 When dried, the flowers, unlike tlie joints, are not difficult to 

 remove from the papers, for there is a minimum of cut surface. 

 The fruit is best put up in longitudinal sections one fourth inch 



