THE STUDY OF BOTANY. 3 
have two, three, four, &c. and some have more than can be 
easily counted. Linnzeus says, the Pistils are formed of the 
pith of the plant. 
The Szrp-vesset. In the newly-opened flower, this part 
was called the Germen ; but when it enlarges, arid approaches 
to maturity, it is called the Seed-vefsel. Some flowers have 
no Seed-vefsels : in which case, the seeds are said to be naked : 
the Cup, however, generally incloses and retains the Seeds until 
_ they ripen; and in the Tribe of Grafses, this office is frequently 
performed by what was before called the Blofsom, 
_ Szeps are sufficiently well known; the substance to which 
they are affixed within the seed-yefsel is called the Receptacle 
of the Seeds, g 
_ Necrantzs are those parts of a flower which are destined 
to contain or prepare a honey-like liquor. The tube of the 
blofsom serves the purpofe of a Nectary in many flowers, as 
in the Honey-suckle: but in other flowers there is a peculiar 
organization created for this purpose. Sce pl. 5, fig. 1, 2, 3, 4 
~—It must be acknowledged, that the term Nectary is fre- 
quently given to parts which do not appear to contain, or to 
secrete any honey-like liquor; but until the uses of these 
parts be better ascertained, and the economy of vegetable life 
more fully understood, an attempt to limit the use of the 
term, and to create new ones, would be premature. — 
The Rucepracte is the Seat or Base to which the above- 
mentioned parts of a flower are fixed. Thus, if you take a 
flower and pull off the Calyx, the Blofsom, the Stamens, the 
Pistils, and the feeds, or Seed-vefsels, the remaining part at 
the top of the stalk is the Receptacle. In many flowers the 
Receptacle is not a very striking part, but in others it is very 
large and remarkable: thus in the Artichoke, after we have 
taken away the leaves of the Calyx, the blofsoms, and the 
bristly substances, the part remaining, and. so much esteemed 
_ as food, isthe Receptacle. © = 
Having thus briefly mentioned the different parts which enter 
into the composition of Flowers, let us, for the sake of illus- 
. : a2 : 
