58. The PISTILS.. occupy the centre of the flower. They ;uc 

 ^ometunes numerous, but often only one. They are destined to 

 beai" the seed./ Collectively, they are called g7jncccnim {jvvij, 

 pistil^ otxoc, a house). 



59. The RECEPTACLEi'is the sutnmit of the flower-stalk, out of 

 which the floral organs gi'ow, and upon which they stand in 

 concentric whorls) the g-i/ncecium in the centre, the ai^drcccium 

 encircling it, the corolla next without, and the co.hjx embracing 

 the "\vhale. 



60. The principal parts of the flower are shown in the cuts (Figs. 4, 6, 7, &c.), 

 or better by specimens, with whirh, both here and throughout the woik, the studetit 

 should always be provided. 



The slender, thread-like organs seen at a (Fig. 4, No. 1 ), ai'e the stamens, sur- 

 rounding the pistil 6 ; c is the perianth, consisting of two similar whorls, the outer 

 one a calyx of three sepals, the inner a corolla of tlu-ee petals, suiTounding or 

 enveloping tlie stamens and pistil ; at d is the receptacle. At a (No. 2) is the 

 inner envelope, the corolla ; at b is the outer envelope, the calyx or cup, which 

 seems to contain the rest of the flower like a cup ; at c, belov/ the calyx, are 

 certain leafy appendages called bracicoles or bracts. 



a. Let the pupil compare specimens of these and other flowers, whose parts are 

 well developed, until he becomes familiar with the appearanco of each organ, and 

 can instantly apply its name. 



61. A complete and regular flower, therefore >. is made up of 

 four sets of organs, arranged in concentric whorls. In regard to 

 the number and 2^osition of the individual organs composing 

 these whorls, it is important to obsei-ve, 



a. First, that each set consists, theoretically, of the same num- 

 ber of organs, that isijf the sepals be 5, there should be 5 petals, 

 5 stamens, and 5 pistils ; or, if 3 sepals, there shoitld be 3 petals, 

 3 stamens, and 3 pistils, &c.> 



h. Secondly, the position of the organs ,in each set alternates 

 with those of each adjacent set, that is, the sepals alternate with 

 the petals, the petals \vi\\\ the stamens, and the stamens with 

 the pistils. 



c. Thus, in a word, the normal structure of the tnily symmetrical flower, 

 divested of all iiTcgularitics, consists of four concentric whorls of organs, the 

 organs of each whorl being equal in number, and alternate in position with tliose 

 of the other whorls (Fig. 5; 1 ). This structural an-angement, as will hereafter be 

 seen, exactly coincides with that; of the leafy fc)-anc/ij)agrccably to the beautiful 



