232 BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF 



greenish leaves, sustaining the corolla at the bottom, 

 and enclosing it entirely before it expands, as you 

 may remark in the Rose and Geranium. 



The Calyx is either, 



A cup, as in the Polyanthus. 



A fence, as in the Carrot. 



A catkin, as in the Willow. 



A sheath, as in the Daffodil. 



A husk, as in Oats, Wheat, or Grasses. 



A veil, as in Mosses. 



A curtain, as in Mushrooms. 



The blossom, petals, or corolla, is that beautifully 

 coloured part of a flower which first attracts the 

 attention, and is regarded by common observers as 

 the flower itself; it serves as a protection to the im- 

 portant parts of fructification, the stamens and pistils, 

 and falls off when they attain maturity. 



The stamens or chives, are composed of two parts, 

 one long and thin, by which they are fastened to the 

 bottom of the corolla, and called the filament ; the 

 other thicker placed at the top of the filament, called 

 the anther. Each anther is a kind of box, which 

 opens when it is ripe, and throws out a yellow dust, 

 called pollen, or farinia. This dust is absorbed by 

 the pistil, and passing through it reaches the germ, 

 and vivifies the seed, which without this process 

 would be imperfect and barren. "When the flowers 



