186 



ORGANOGEAPHY. 



instead of being elongated in a longitudinal direction, becomes 

 shortened and dilated more or less horizontally, and bears nu- 

 merous flowers, it is called the receptacle. This receptacle varies 

 very much in form ; thus, it is flattened in the Cotton Thistle 



Fig. 380. Hypanthodium of 

 the Pig (Ficus Carica), 

 showing pear-shaped fleshy 

 receptacle bearing flowers. 



Fig. S81. Hypanthodium 



of a species of Dorstenia, 

 with concave receptacle. 



{OnopoTclum Acanthium) {fig. 401); conical in the Chamomile 

 [fig. 378); concave in the Dorstenia {fig. 381), pear-shaped in 

 the Fig {fig. 380) ; or it assumes a variety of other intermediate 

 forms. It should be particularly observed, that the term recep- 

 tacle is also applied by some botanists to the extremity of the pe- 

 duncle or pedicel, upon which the parts of the flower are placed, 

 whether enlarged or not, and whether bearing one or a number 

 of flowers (see Thalamus). When plants which have no aerial 

 stem bear flowers, the peduncle necessarily arises at, or under 

 the ground, in which case it is called a Scape or radical peduncle 

 {fig. 376), as in the Spring Snow-flake, Tulip, Hyacinth, Prim- 

 rose, Cowslip, &c. 



In form the peduncle is generally more or less cylindrical, but 

 besides the departure from this ordinary appearance as exhibited 

 by the receptacle just described, it frequently assumes . other 

 forms. Thus, it may become more or less compressed, or 

 grooved in various ways, or it may become excessively en- 

 larged during the ripening of the fruit, as in the Cashew Nut ; 

 or it may assume a spiral appearance, as in the Vallis7ieria 

 {fig. 382); or become spiny, or transformed into a tendril, &c. 

 In the Eschscholtzia it becomes hollowed out at its apex, so as 

 to form a cup-shaped body, to which the lower part of the calyx 

 is attached. 



