IV.] WILLOW. 41 



Examine the staminate and pistillate flowers separately. 

 In the staminate flower you observe the calyx to consist 

 of four sepals, which are slightly coherent at the base. As 

 the corolla is suppressed, the envelope of the flower is 

 single {monochia?nydeous), not double {dichlamydeous)^ as in 

 the species previously examined. Opposite to the sepals 

 are the four stamens inserted upon the receptacle. The 

 pistil is represented by a minute central rudiment. 



In the pistillate flower the calyx consists, also, of four 

 leaves; but here they are coherent nearly to their tips, 

 forming a flask-like calyx-tube, which closely invests the 

 ovary, without, however, adhering to it. Four minute, un- 

 equal teeth, indicate the number of sepals cohering to form 

 the calyx. There are no stamens, and the pistil consists of 

 a single carpel, with a superior ovary. 



In Grass-cloth Nettle we have the flowers : — 



Calyx gamoseJ>alous, inferior. 

 Corolla o. 

 In the male flower («j). Stamens hypogynous^ tetrandrous. 



Pistil o. 

 In the female flower (?), Stamens o. 



Pistil superior., apocarpous. 



10. Willow {Salix). — It does not matter as to the species, 

 but, as in the case of the Grass-cloth Netde, two speci- 

 mens, from difl'erent trees, will be required, as the flowers 

 are diclinous and dioecious. You find the flowers arranged 

 in spikes, which, being deciduous and bearing imperfect 

 flowers, are specially distinguished as caikifis. Both the 

 staminate and pistillate flowers are destitute of calyx and 

 corolla. Having therefore no envelope to the essential 

 organs, they are called achlamydeous. The stamens, two, 

 three, five, or rarely more, spring from the axil of a minute 



