THE FLOWER 45 



and color ; some are pubescent, others glabrous ; some glandular, 

 others eglandular. At the time of flo\Yering, the sepals in nearly 

 all brambles are reversed ; in some species they remain reversed 

 until the fruits ripen, but in others they change in position from 

 the reversed form through all stages to clasping the fruit, as in 

 the wine-berry. 



The calyx also furnishes means of determining varieties of 

 strawberries. The sepals vary greatly in size, color, and posi- 

 tion ; they may be large or small ; raised on the neck of the berrj^, 

 attached to the flat base, or sunken into the fruit ; some are leaf- 

 like, others bract-like. The calyx parts from the fruit easily 

 in some varieties, and with difficulty in others. In commercial 

 varieties of strawberries, the calyx should be large, bright in 

 color, and should part readily from the fruit. Now and then a 

 variety is found in which the calyx remains on the plant when 

 the berry is picked ; these sorts are called sh uckless, 



71. The corolla. — The petals of the corolla may be free or 

 united as are the sepals of the calyx, and similar terms, poly- 

 petaloii^ and gamopetaloiis, apply to the two forms. Free petals 

 may have stalks of greater or less length called claws, while the 

 more or less expanded portion is the Imib. Shapes and marginal 

 markings, as with sepals, are described by much the same terms 

 used in descriptions of leaves, but all characters of the corolla 

 are subordinate to color. Differences in color of the corolla are 

 in themselves recognition marks, as in apples and the drupe- 

 fruits. The color of the corolla is best studied in the bud just 

 before the petals begin to unfold, when the distinctive shade for 

 each variety, other than white, is most intense. As the flower 

 unfolds, the color fades. 



72. The stamens of all the hardy fruits are distinct and free 

 and in none, with the exception of the grape, do they offer 

 marks of especial merit in recognizing species or varieties in 

 their structure. Flowers of some varieties of grapes have up- 

 right stamens, while others have these organs reflexed. Besides 

 being a mark of recognition, the position of the stamens usually 

 indicates whether or not a variety is capable of setting fruit 

 without cross-pollination, for the upright stamens usually have 

 perfect pollen-grains while the reflexed ones usually bear 

 abortive pollen. 



