252 SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS. 



To understand the true position of the parts of the 

 flower, a line should be traced from the bract up the 

 ovary, following its curvature, if any, and then the leaf 

 of the perianth, which is strictly anterior, i.e. im- 

 mediately over the bract, will be discovered. 



Next, notice the three outer leaves (sepals) of the 

 perianth. These may be all of the same simple form, 

 or one of them may be "hooded," ''bag-like," 

 "spurred," etc. 



Then follow the three petals of the inner whorl of 

 the perianth. 



In many "Orchids," as any plants of this family 

 are called in popular language, it is the posterior petal 

 which takes on some one of the above forms, instead 

 of a sepal. It is then called the labellum. In (I.) 

 it appears as a very minute body, and situated heloio in 

 front (/.) ; but by comparing this with the diagram (II.), 

 the labellum (5) stands on the posterior side of the 

 flower next to the stem {x). Consequently, the bract 

 will be behind the sepal (o.s.) on the anterior side ; but 

 as the flower bends over to the opposite side of the stem, 

 it is really inverted in (I.). 



Within the perianth, of which the other two petals 

 are shown in (III.), there is a solid body called the 

 column. This is really composed of the filament of 

 the single stamen adherent to the style ; so that while 

 the anther (/.«.) is on one side only, the two stigmas 

 are below it (.s;Y.). These should, of course, be three; 



