CRUCIFORM FLOWERS. 7 



flower, namely, the calyx. This consists of four 

 pieces, simply called leaves, without any appropriate 

 name expressive of distinction, as that of petals for 

 flower-leaves, without we adopt the very modern term 

 of sepals for these parts, as is done by several eminent 

 French botanists. These four leaves, in our plant, 

 are commonly in unequal pairs, two of them being 

 enlarged or swelled out at the bottom so as to exhibit 

 a very sensible protuberance. 



Within the calyx you will find a corolla of four 

 broadish or roundish petals disposed opposite to each 

 other in the manner of a cross. Each of these petals 

 is attached to the receptacle or base of the germ, by 

 a narrow pale part, which is called unguis or the claw 

 of the petal, and above and out of the calyx spreads 

 the large, flat, colored part, called the lamina or 

 border. 



Each petal, you will observe, instead of corres- 

 ponding in place with each leaflet of the calyx, is, on 

 the contrary, placed between two, so that it occupies 

 the opening space between them, and this alternate 

 position is common to all flowers having as many 

 petals as leaves in the calyx. 



In the centre of the corolla is one pistil, long, and 

 somewhat cylindric, composed of a germ terminated 

 by an oblong stigma which is bifid, or cleft into two 

 parts, and reflected backwards. 



The stamens in the stock are remarkable for their 

 number and proportion ; there are six, as in the lilia- 

 ceous flowers, though only four petals, but they are 

 disposed in two sets, namely, four by opposite pairs 

 which are long, and another pair which are short, in 

 consequence of a small gland being interposed between 

 their base and the germ, and which also gives occa- 

 sion to that enlargement already observed at the base 

 of two of the leaves of the calyx. 



