152 GLIMPSES IX TO PLA XT-LIFE 



and outside these again are the green sepals, or 

 leaves of the cal)'x. 



These two sets of enfolding leaves are called 

 " floral envelopes," because the)' fold over and 

 protect the central organs, the stamens and the 

 pistil. 



We will select a buttercup as a t)'pe, and taking 

 it to pieces we will try to learn the names and 

 uses of its various parts. 



The outside is a greenish-yellow cup which is 

 called the calyx. 



The divisions of this little green cup are called 

 sepals, and their office is to protect the five bright 

 yellow leaves within, which are called petals when 

 we speak of them singly, but, taken all together, 

 form the corolla. 



In the buttercups the petals are all separate, but 

 if we look at a primrose we shall see that the 

 corolla is in one piece, united in a tube ; so also is 

 the calyx. 



The botanical term for a corolla thus formed is 

 gauiopetaloiis, a long word but easil)- understood 

 when we know 'Ca'dX gamos means united ; a flower 

 with petals in one instead of many divisions is 



