288 MODIFICATIONS OF THE STYLE. 
the ovaries and styles of the species of Geraniwm (fig. 640), and 
some other plants, where the axis is prolonged in the form of a 
beak-like process, to which the ovaries and styles become united, 
and from which they separate when the fruit is ripe. This 
prolongation of the thalamus is termed a carpophore. (See 
Thalamus, page 294.) 
We have already stated (page 281), that when the styles of a 
syncarpous pistil are distinct, they usually correspond to the 
number of carpels of which that pistil is composed. It some- 
times happens, however, that the style of each carpel bifurcates 
or becomes forked, as in some Euphorbiacez, either once ( figs. 
627 and 642), or twice (jig. 641); in which case the apparent 
number of the styles above is then double or quadruple that of 
the carpels. 
Fia. 641. Fic. 642. 
Fig. 641. Female flower of one of the Euphorbiacee. c. Calyx. p, p. Petals. 
¢, Membranous expansion round the ovary. o. Ovary with three styles, 
s,each of which is twice forked. Fig. 642. Ovary of the Castor-oil Plant 
(Ricinus communis), belonging to the Euphorbiacez. The styles in this 
case are once-forked. 
When two or more styles are united into one body, this is 
termed a compound style. This adhesion may take place either 
entirely as in the Primrose (jig. 582), when the style is impro- 
perly termed simple (undivided or entire would bea better term) ; 
or the union is more or less incomplete as we proceed towards its 
apex, and corresponding terms are used accordingly. These 
terms are similar to those previously mentioned in describing 
the degrees of division of the other parts of the plant : thus the 
style is said to be cleft, when the union between the component 
styles extends to at least midway between their base and apex ; 
and the style is said to be bifid, trifid, quadrifid, quinquefid, or 
multifid, according as it is two, three, four, five or many-cleft. If 
the union between the component styles does not extend to mid- 
