30 THE FLOWER. 



58. The PISTILS occupy the centre of the flower. They are 

 sometimes mimerous, but often only one. They are destined to 

 bear the seed. Collectively, they are called gyncecium (j'l^vj;, 

 pistil, otHOQ, a house). 



59. The RECETTACLE is the summit of the flower-stalk, out of 

 wlrich the floral organs gi-ow, and upon wliich they stand in 

 concentric whorls, tlie gyncscium in the centre, the andrcecium 

 encircling it, the cofolla next wdthout, and the calyx embracing 

 the whole. 



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

 or better by specimens, with which, both hoc and throughout the xuork, the student 

 should always be provided. 



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

 rounding the pis^til 6 : c is tlie perianth, consisting of two similar whorls, the outer 

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

 enveloping the stamens and pistil ; aid is the receptacle. At a (No. 2) is the 

 inner envelope, the coroUa ; at 6 is the outer envelope, the calyx or cup, which 

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

 certain leafy appendages c&WeAbracteoles or bracts. 



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

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

 can instantly apply ils name. 



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

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

 the number and posiiion of the individual organs composing 

 these whorls, it is important to observ^e, 



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

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

 5 stamens, and 5 pistils ; or, if 3 sepals, there should 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 with the stamens, and the stamens with 

 the pistils. 



f. Thus, in a word, the normal stniciure of tlie tiiily symmeti-ical flower, 

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

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

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

 seen, exactly coincides with that of the leafy branch, agreeably to the beautiful 



