26 AKRANGEMENT OF PAETS IN THE COTTON PLANT. 



representing free stipular elements of the calyx lobes. In either case 

 they support the view that the calyx lobes are homologous with the 

 bracts of the outer involucre. In other words, the calyx of the cotton 

 plant may be looked upon as an inner involucre. 



The petals of the cotton flower are opposite the lobes of the staminal 

 column and overlap in the same direction as the stamens are bent. 

 This direction conforms to the twisting of the internode of the branch 

 bearing the flower and is reversed in the flowers at each succeeding 

 node. 



The stamens are arranged on the staminal column in five vertical 

 rows, about the pistil, opposite the petals, and turn in the same direc- 

 tion as the overlapping of the petals. The paired positions and fre- 

 quent brandling of the stamens suggest the development of the com- 

 pound staminal column by the subdivision of a few primitive stamens. 



There is a persistent irregularity in the number of carpels, in the 

 flov/ers and fruits of the same plant. The range of normal variation 

 is from two to four carpels in the Egj'ptian cotton and from three to 

 five carpels in the Upland cotton. Wlien the number is five, the 

 stigmas and carpels alternate with the petals and the lobes of the 

 staminal column. 



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