172 F101VER. 



present, in Parsnip neither ; and when present, they 

 either entirely invest the peduncle, or are dimidiate, 

 being attached to one side, leaving the other naked. 



Spathe Fig. 101. — " The Spathe is a floral leaf issuing 

 from the upper extremity of of the stem or scape, and 

 enveloping one or more flowers by the union or convo- 

 lution of its edges, which open as the flower expands. 

 The term is restricted by some Botanists to such plants 

 only as produce their fructification on a spadix, as the 

 Arum or Palms ; but by others it is used with greater 

 latitude, being applied also to the sheath which invests 

 the unexpanded flowers of the Narcissus and similar 

 liliaceous plants, in which application of the term there 

 seems to be no impropriety. Linnaeus indeed regarded 

 and arranged the Spathe as a species of calyx ; but 

 for reasons analagous to those excluding the involucre 

 from the rank of calyx, the spathe is excluded from 

 that rank also."* 



In Narcissus, it encloses a solitary flower, in Jonquil 

 several, and in Arum, it contains an assemblage of ses- 

 sile flowers surrounding the base of the spadix. 



In most cases the spathe consists of a single leaf, 

 which in Arum triphyllum is inflected and striped, in 

 Calla palustris white and spreading ; spongy and spot- 

 ted in Skunk's Cabbage ; and membranaceous in Snow 

 drop and in most liliaceous plants. 



The leaves which enclose the ears of Indian Corn, 

 (in New England termed the husks) are to be regarded 

 as a singular variety of spathe closely investing the 

 spadix until its seeds are mature. 



Bracte or Floral leaf. This is a leaf-like appendage 

 to the Peduncle or flower. When it closely invests 



* Keith-. 



