346 THE CROWFOOT FAMILY 
simple pistils as those of the marsh-marigold are called carpels' 
and are regarded as representing each a single egg-sac leaf 
just as a stamen is a single pollen-sac leaf. Taken together 
the carpels form the gynecium? of the flower, while the 
stamens collectively form the andrecium.* Near the base of 
each carpel is a gland that secretes drops of a sweet fluid, 
called nectar * which attracts insects, and from which they 
make honey. In each ovary of the marsh-marigold, as will 
be noticed, there are several ovules attached to that part of 
the wall lying nearest the center of the flower along a line 
running from top to bottom—such a line as would be made 
by the edges of a folded leaf where they came together. Thus 
the carpel of a marsh-marigold may be likened to a leaf 
bearing ovules along its edges and these joined so as to form 
an ovary. That part of an ovary wall which bears the ovules 
is called the placenta; > and when as in this case it extends 
along the front side of the ovary (that toward the center 
of the flower) the placenta is said to be ventral. The oppo- 
site side or back of the carpellary leaf, commonly marked by 
a ridge representing the midrib, is distinguished as the 
dorsal 7? aspect. 
The ovules of marsh-marigolds are essentially like those 
of flax and of all the crowfoot family. We may distinguish 
in each ovule a little stalk, the fwnicle,s which continues as a 
ridge, the raphe,® along the side of the main part or body of 
the ovule. At the small end is a minute opening, the micro- 
pyle.° An ovule which is bent so that the micropyle comes 
next to the funicle, or point of attachment, is termed anat- 
ropous.}! 
_ 1Car’-pel < Gr. karpos, fruit, as being essentially the fruit produc- 
ing part. 
2 Gy-nee’-ci-um < Gr. gyne, female; oikos, house. 
3 An-dree’-ci-um < Gr. andros, male. 
4 Nec’-tar < Gr. nektar, the drink of the gods. 
6 Pla-cen’-ta < L. a little cake, from its cake-like form in certain 
Pe rventieal <_L. venter, belly. 
7 Dor’sal < L. dorsum, back. 
§ Fu’-ni-cle < L. funiculus, diminutive of funis, a cord. 
° Ra’phe < Gr. rhaphe, a seam. 
10 Mi-cro-pyle < Gr. micros, small; pyle, gate. 
11 A-nat’-ro-pous < Gr, ana, back; trepein, turn, 
