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IKTKODUCTTON, XIU 



o, 



0. Such a complete syniiiietrical flower consists usually of either four or fire whorls 

 of altered leaves (88), placed immediately one uitliiii (lie''other. 



The Calyx forms tlie outer whorl. Its parts are called sepals. 



The Corolla forms the next whorl. Its parts, called petals, usually alternate with 

 the sepals ; that is to say, the centre of each petal is immediately over or within the 

 interval between two sepals. 



Tlie Stamens form one or two whorls wathin the petals. If two, those of the outer 



whorl (the outer stamens) alteruate with the petals, and are consequently opposite to, 



or over the centre of the sepals ; those of the inner whorl (the inner stamens) alternate 



^vlth the outer ones, and are therefore opposite to the petals. If there is only one 



wltorl of stamens, they most frequently alternate with the petals; but sometimes they 



are opposite the petals and alternate with the sepals. 



I he Pistil forms the inner whorl; its carpels usually ahernate with the inner row 

 of stamens. 



yl. lu an axillary or lateral flower the upper parts of each whorl (sepals, petals, 

 stamens, or carpels) are those which are next to the main axis of the stems or branch, 

 the loiver parts those which are furthest from it ; the intermediate ones are said to be 

 tateral. The words anterior (Jvoni) and posterior (back) are often used for lower and 

 upper respectively, but their meaning is sometimes reversed if the writer supposes 

 himself in the centre of the flower instead of outside of it. 



92. The number of parts in each whorl of a flower is expressed adjcctivcly by the 

 following numerals derived from the Greek :— 



mono-, di-j tri-, tetra-, peuta-, hexa-, hepta, octo-, ennea-, deca-, etc., poly- 

 1-, 3-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, mani/- 



prefixed to a termination indicating the whorl referred to. 

 03. Thus, a Flower is 



disepalous^ trlsepatous^ tetrasepalotis, polysepalonSy etc., according as there are 

 2, 3, 4, or many (or an indefinite number of) sepals. 



dipetalous^ tripetaloiis^ polypetatous^ etc., accordiug as there are 2, 3, or many 

 petals. 



diandroiis, triandroxis^ polyandrous, eic.^ according as there are 2, 3, or many 

 stamens, 



dff/i/non.9, irigi/nous^ VoJygynous^ ei(^.^ according as there arc 2, 3, or many carpels. 

 And generally (if symmetrical), dimerous, irimerous, polymeroiis^ etc., according 

 as there are 2, 3, or many (or an iudefnute number of) parts to each whorl. 



94, Plowers are unsymmeirical or anisomerom\ strictly speaking, wJien anyone of 

 the whorls has a ditlerent number of parts from any other; but when the pistils alone 

 are reduced in number, the flower is still frequently called symmetrical or isomerous, 

 if the calyx, corolla, and staminal whorls have all the same number of pai-ts. 



95. Flowers are irreyular when the parts of any one of the whorls are unequal in 

 size, dissimilar in shape, or do not spread regulaily round the axis at equal distances. 

 It is however more especially irregularity of the corolla that is referred to in descrip- 

 tions. A slight inequahty in size or direction in the other whorls docs not prevent the 

 flower being classed as reyidar, if the corolla or perianth is conspicuous and regular. 



§ 9. The Calyx and Corolla, or Ferianfh, 



96. The Calyx (90) is usually green, and smaller than the corolla ; sometiraes 

 unite, rudimentary, or wanting, sometimes very indistinctly whorled, or not wl 



mnuite 



<3 very 

 lorlcd 



«it alh or in two whorls, or composed of a large number of sejmls, of which the outer 

 ones pass gradually into bracts, and the mncr ones into petals. 



97. Tlic Corolla (DO) is usually coloured, and of a more th^lfcate texture than the 

 ^•ilysj and, in popular language, is often more specially meant by i\\c flower. Its petals 

 are more rarely in two whoHs, or indefinite in mmiber, and the whorl more rarely 

 oi'oken than hi the case of the calyx, at least when t!ie plant is in n natural state. 

 ^oiillejtotvers are in most cases an accidental deformity or monster in which the ordi- 

 nary number of petals is multiplied by the conversion of stamens, sepals, or even carpels 

 i^to petals, bv the division of ordinary petals, or simply by the addition of snpcrnunie- 

 '^ ones. Petals are also sometimes very small, rudimentary, or entirely dehcient. " 



VOL. I. • 



