THE PLAN OF THE FLOWER. 83 



406. Recapitulation. Thus we have noticed the members of Iho 

 flower in the order of their succession from the outer to the inner cir- 

 cle. Now,' in regard to the receptacle on which they stand in concen- 

 tric whorls, we fiud (reversing the order) the gynoecium in the midst, 

 the center of the flower, the androecium encircling it, the corolla next 

 without, and the calyx embracing the whole. 



407. Appendages. These are the four proper members or sets of 

 organs composing the flower. Occasionally we meet with a fifth be- 

 tween the corolla and stamens, not easily refcrrible to either, like the 

 scales in the throat of the Borrageworts, or the crown of the Narcissus 

 and jonquils. Such are regarded as appendages, not necessary to the 

 completeness of the flower. 



THE PLAN OF THE FLOWER. 



408. Essential unity combined with endless diversity is every where a 

 characteristic of nature. Herein consists the perpetual charm of her presence and 

 the perpetual reward of her diligent study. There is no better example of this 

 happy combination than is found in the structure of the flower. Unity or uniform- 

 ity, when often repeated, becomes monotony. Diversity without unity is confusion. 

 Hence, in our study of the thousand forms in which God has attired the flower wo 

 shall arrive at no satisfactory result until we come to discern that unity of plan, that 

 simple idea of the flower in which all its diversities harmonize. Tliere is such an 

 idea. It originated in the Infinite Mind. Let us search for it. 



409. The floral organs. "We have already seen that the flower may consist 

 of four sets of organs — calyx, corolla, androecium, gynoecium ; or of four kinds of or- 

 gans — sepals, petals, stamens, pistils, each arranged circularly around a common 

 center. 



410. Symmetry of the flower. Now as the leaves of a branch are definitely 

 apportioned into equal cycles, we naturally look for a corresponding symmetry in 

 the flower. Each set of organs should consist of at least one cycle. And as tho 

 cycle itself may vary numerically, being 2-leaved, 3-leaved, 5-leaveJ, etc., in differ- 

 ent species, so in the flower each cycle or set may be 2-parted, 3-parted, 5-parted, 

 etc. That is, tho sepals, petals, stamen3, pistils, may each bo two in number, or 

 three, or four, or five in number, etc. 



411. Again, in relative position the organs of each set, as a rule, alternate 

 with theorems of each adjacent set; the petals alternate with the sepals and sta- 

 mens, the stamens with the petals and pistils. This alternation accords with tho op- 

 posite and verticlllate arrangement of leaves, where (§ 226) tho leaves of any given 

 circle do not stand exactly over the leaves of tho next circle below, but over tha 

 intervals between them. In a word, 



412. The typical flower, one that exemplifies the full idea of tho 

 floral structure, consists of four different circles of organs, each circlo 

 having the same number of separate, alternating parts. Such a flower 

 is not only 



Perfect, having both the essential organs, but also 



Complete, having the four kinds of organs. 



