MODIFICATIONS OF THE THALAMUS. 293 
265). To prevent confusion, therefore, it would be far better 
to limit the terms receptacle and torus to their special applica- 
tions ; and to employ the term thalamus only as defined above, 
and as it is used in this work. 
In the majority of plants the thalamus is a little flattened 
surface or point, and accordingly presents nothing remarkable ; 
Fig. 654. Fie. 655. 
ul! 
c \ re 
Ta" MANNED YAN 
AW” , 
Fy WEE f 
“HG Was we, 
= WZ 
Fia. 656. 
Fig. 654. thal. Thalamus of Nelumbium. carp. Carpels. 
strous development of the flower of the Rose, showing the axis prolonged 
Fig. 655. Mon- 
beyond the flower and bearing foliage leaves. Fig. 656. Flower of a 
species of Gynandropsis, belonging to the Capparidaces. cal, Calyx. cov’. 
Corolla. thal. Prolonged thalamus or gynophore, supporting the stamens, 
st, and ovary, ov. 
but in other plants it becomes much enlarged, and then assumes 
a variety of appearances, and thus modifies to a considerable 
extent the form of the flower. Most of these forms of the 
thalamus have been already referred to (page 273), when de- 
scribing the apocarpous pistil, but it will be more convenient for 
reference, &c., if we now speak again of these and all other 
