CHAPTER XII. 



FLOWER. 



By Linnaeus the Flower and Fruit were classed to- 

 gether, and defined to be a temporary part of vegeta- 

 bles, destined for the reproduction of the species, ter- 

 minating the old individual, and beginning the new. 

 These constitute the reproductive organs, by which 

 the species have been hitherto preserved from extinc- 

 tion, and by which alone they will be renewed, so long 

 as seed time and harvest continue. " A plant may be 

 destitute of stems, leaves, or even roots, because if 

 one of these parts be wanting, the others may perform 

 its functions, but it can never be destitute of those or- 

 gans by which its species is propagated. Hence, though 

 many individual plants may be long without blossoms, 

 there are none, so far as nature has been thoroughly 

 investigated, that are not capable, in favourable circum- 

 stances, of producing them, as well as seeds ; to whose 

 perfection the blossoms themselves are altogether sub- 

 servient."* No part of the vegetable displays such a 

 variety of colours, or exhales a more pleasant perfume 

 than the flower : it gives to most ornamental plants their 

 greatest charm, and is the peculiar object of the flor- 

 ist's attention. But as we require not the aid of Botany 

 to discover that the perfume is delightful, and the colour 

 rich or gay, so we need not the aid of technical names 

 to express their very obvious qualities. It is conven- 



* Smith. 



