THE STRUCTURE OF FLOWERS 



17 



propose giving a general description, that the 

 reader may be able to understand and recognize 

 flowers by the peculiarities of their several parts. 



Let us take some common flower as a butter- 

 cup, and dissect it. If the reader can procure a 

 living specimen, it is desirable to do so ; but if not, 



Fig. I. Ranunculus acris ; Field Buttercup. 



I must^^refer him to the accompanying diagram 



(Fig. I). 



The flower consists of four floral Whorls. The 

 two outermost are called the Calyx^ of five free 

 sepals ; and the Corolla^ of five free petals^ each of 

 which has a little honey-gland at the base. 



The third whorl consists of numerous Stamens^ 



B 



