Xvi INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY. 
stamens, or appendages at the base of the petals, or stamens or any small 
bodies within the flower which do not look like petals, stamens, or carpels. 
The term vectary is nearly obsolete. 
124. When the disk bears the petals and stamens on its rim, it is fre- 
quently adherent to and confluent with the tube of the calyx: or it is ad- 
herent to the outside of the ovary; or adherent both to calyx-tube and 
ovary. Hence arise the three following important distinctions in the 
relative insertions of the floral whorls :— 
Petals and stamens, or, as in common language, flowers, are, 
hypogynous (i.e. under the ovary), when they or the disk that bears 
them are entirely free or separate from both calyx and ovary. 
The ovary in this case is said to be free or superior ; the calyx 
free or inferior ; the petals as being inserted on the receptacle. 
perigynous (i.e. round about the ovary), when the disk bearing the 
petals is quite free from the ovary, but is more or less com- 
bined with the calyx-tube. The ovary is then still described 
as free or superior, even though the combined disk and calyx- 
tube may form a deep cup with the ovary lying in the bottom ; 
the calyx is said to be free or inferior; the petals as being i- 
serted on the calyx. 
epigynous (¢. e. upon the ovary), when the disk bearing the petals is 
combined both with the base of the calyx-tube and the outside 
of the ovary ; either closing over the ovary so as only to leave 
a passage for the style, or leaving more or less of the top of 
the ovary free, but always adhering to it above the level of the 
insertion of the lowest ovule (except in a few cases when the 
ovules are suspended from the apex of the cell). In epigynous 
flowers the ovary is described as adherent or inferior ; the calyx 
as adherent or superior ; the petals as inserted on or above the 
ovary. 
125. When there are no petals, the insertion of the stamens determines 
the difference between hypogynous, perigynous, and epigynous flowers. 
126. When both petals and stamens are present, 
in hypogynous flowers the petals and stamens are usually separate, 
but sometimes they are confluent at base. In that case, if the 
petals are distinct from each other, and the stamens are mona~ 
delphous, the petals are often said to be inserted on, or com- 
bined with, the staminal tube ; if the corolla is gamopetalous and 
the stamens distinct from each other, the latter are said to be 
inserted on the tube of the corolla. 
in perigynous flowers the stamens are usually inserted immediately 
within the petals, or alternating with them on the edge of the 
disk, or even on the unenlarged part of the receptacle. 
in epigynous flowers, when the petals are distinct, the stamens are 
usually inserted as in perigynous flowers; when the corolla is 
gamopetalous, the stamens are often combined at the base with 
the tube of the corolla, or, as it is more frequently expressed, 
inserted on the tube. 
127. When the receptacle is distinctly elongated below the ovary, it is 
often called a gynobase, gynophore, or stalk of the ovary. 
128. An epigynous disk is a name given either to the thickened summit 
of the ovary in epigynous flowers, or very rarely to a real disk or en- 
lareement of the receptacle closing over the ovary. 
129. In the relative position of any two parts of the flower, whether in 
the same or in different whorls, they are, 
connivent, when nearer together at the summit than at the base. 
divergent, when further apart at the summit than at the base. 
