156 GLIMPSES IXrO PLAXr-UFE 



Others derive their names from their mode of 

 growth, as stone-crop, which is called sedum, from 

 sfdo, I sit, the plant having scarceh* an}' stalk, and 

 sitting, as it were, on walls and rocks. 



These instances will show that it is well worth 

 while to study names and learn their meanings, as 

 they often throw so much light upon the history of 

 a plant. 



In the flowers of bulbous plants we find that the 

 calyx and petal leaves are frequently alike in 

 colour and texture ; in that case the three sepals 

 and three petals, of which the}- usualh' consist, are 

 spoken of as a perianth. 



In looking at the brilliant colouring of a flower 

 we should hardly imagine that the petals have to 

 some extent the nature of leaves, and under certain 

 conditions ma}- be changed to the green colour 

 and form of ordinar}- leaves. 



In ver}' wet seasons we ma}- sometimes find 

 rose-buds with the sepals of the cal}'x developed 

 into perfect green leaves. The floral envelopes 

 therefore possess the nature of true leaves. 



The brilliant scarlet so-called flowers of the 

 poinsettia are reall}' coloured bracts, the true 



