30 THE FLOWER. 



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

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

 bear the seed. Collectively, they are called gynoRcium {yvvrj, 

 pistil, oixog, a house). 



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

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

 concentric whorls, the gyncecium in the centre, the andrcecium. 

 encircling it, the corolla next without, and the calyx embracing 

 the whole. 



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

 or better by specimens, with which, both here and throughout the xvork, the student 

 should always be provided. 



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

 rounding the pistil b; cis the perianth, consisting of two similar Avhorls, the outer 

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

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

 inner envelope, the corolla ; 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 called bracteoles or bracts. 



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

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

 can instantly apply its name. 



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

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

 the number and position of the individual organs composing 

 these whorls, it is important to observe, 



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. 



b. 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. 



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

 divested of all irregularities, 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 arrangement, as will hereafter be 

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



