no THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



They possess bracteoles in some cases. The calyx 

 is inferior, gamosepalous, with five lobes, or teeth, 

 overlapping or valvate in bud, and persistent. The 

 corolla is regular, gamopetalous, with five lobes, 

 twisted in bud, bell-shaped, funnel-shaped, or plate- 

 shaped, and is more or less perigynous. There are 

 five stamens, which are epipetalous, inserted on the 

 middle of the tube of the corolla, alternating with 

 the petals, usually unequal. The anthers are two- 

 celled. The pollen is blue, more or less rounded, 

 and netted. There is a fleshy disc. The ovary is 

 three-celled (or two- to five-celled). The style is 

 simple, lobed at the tip. There are three linear 

 stigmas, which are rolled back. The capsule is 

 three-celled, and opens by slits by three valves 

 loculicidally. The cells are one- or many-seeded. 



The flowers contain honey, and the stigma and 

 anthers ripen separately in the Jacob's Ladder. 



The capsule opens to allow the seeds to be wind- 

 scattered. 



The plants of this group are of no economic 

 importance, but are largely cultivated as ornamental 

 garden flowers. 



Jacob's Ladder {Polemonium cceruleum). 



The English name appears to be applied to this 

 plant on account of the pinnate leaves, which re- 

 semble the rungs of a ladder. The second name 

 applies to the colour of the flower. 



