I.] FLOWER-LEAVES. 7 



5. Proceed next to note that the lowest and outermost 

 part of the flower consists of a little cup with about five 

 minute teeth upon its margin. These minute teeth indicate 

 — as we shall become well assured as our experience widens 

 — the number of leaves which are united to form the cup, 

 each tooth answering to the tip of one of the little cohering 

 leaves. These leaves are singly termed the Calyx-leaves, 

 or Sepals, and together they form the Calyx of the flower, 

 whether united, as in the Orange, or wholly separate, as in 

 many common plants at hand in every garden. In the 

 Orange the calyx remains after flowering, and may still be 

 found even when the fruit is ripe. Such a calyx is said to 

 be persistent. 



We shall find it convenient to distinguish between a 

 calyx which consists of separate calyx-leaves or sepals, and 

 a calyx in which they are united more or less, terming the 

 former polysepaloiis^ the latter gamosepalous. The calyx of 

 the Orange is gamosepalous. 



6. Immediately inside the calyx are normally five erect 

 or slightly curved-back, separate, white, and wax-like leaves. 

 These also are arranged in a whorl, and they are singly 

 placed opposite to the intervals between the teeth of the 

 calyx, not opposite to the teeth (sepals) themselves. Singly, 

 they are the Corolla-leaves or Petals; together they form 

 the Corolla of the flower. The petals being free, the corolk- 

 is polypetalous ; being equal in size and form, it is also 

 regular. 



Unlike the calyx, the corolla falls away early, and hence 

 may be described as deciduous. 



1 This prefix (-n-oAuy, many) is used when applied to sepals and petals, 

 to denote that the sepals or petals are free rather than that they are 

 actually many in number. Usually there are not more than three, four, 

 or five sepals or petals in a flower. 



