ISO CAMPANULA COKOXATA. 



elegant little C.pumila — to several feet, as in the equally well known C. pyramidalis. 

 Some of them are trailers, of which class the C. garganica, often cultivated as a window 

 plant, may be cited as an example ; but far the greater portion of the species are of 

 erect growth. A few are annual, and there are about twenty biennial species ; 

 but the genus consists chiefly of herbaceous perennials. White, and various 

 shades of violet, blue, and purple, are the prevailing colours ; there are, however, 

 several yellow species, and also a few of a reddish lilac, but none of a distinct 

 red tint. 



There is much to interest in the structure of the plants of the order Campanulacece. 

 They are distinguished among all other monopetalous plants, by the valvate folding 

 of the corolla in the bud ; dilated filaments ; style covered with collecting hairs ; 

 with an inferior three five-celled many-seeded fruit, and a milky juice. It is of 

 little moment what species is examined, any of those at hand will be found to 

 answer to the above brief description. 



In the genus Campanula, the divisions of the calyx are usually five in number, 

 and are very often reflexed, so as to cover the seed-vessel.* The corolla is both 

 valvate and plaited in estimation ; that is, before expansion its lobes are applied to 

 each other by their margins only, and the body of the corolla is folded lengthways, 

 so as to present a fluted appearance. 



In C. carpatica, and C. nitida, the mouth of the flower is very wide; and in 

 C. elatine, and a few others, the limb is almost flat ; but in eoronata, medium, pumila, 

 nohilis, and, perhaps, the greater number of the species, the corolla is truly bell- 

 shaped, although not always cernuous. 



The most curious parts of the flower are, however, the central organs, the stamens, 

 and style. In the greater number of plants, these organs enlarge with the growth 

 of the corolla, and attain their full development only after the opening of the 

 flower. If, however, the blossom of any species of Campanula be examined 

 immediately after its expansion, the threc-lobed stigma will be seen protruding, 

 more or less ; but the stamens will be observed at the bottom of the flower in a 

 shrivelled condition. They will be found, in fact, to have already discharged their 

 pollen, which will be seen collected around the style below the lobes of the 

 stigma. 



Tbe mode in which the pollen is transferred to the style, may be easily 

 seen by pulling open a half-grown blossom. At this stage of development,' 

 the long anthers will be found closely surrounding the style, which does not now 

 exceed them in length. This orgau is covered with what are termed collecting hairs, 

 which are best observed before the pollen is shed. These hairs are of two kinds ; 

 the longest are readily perceptible to the naked eye, and appear, under the 



* In the Canterbury Bells (('. medium), the intermediate portions of the calyx, between the lobes, are 

 prolonged downwards in an ear-like form, so that there appear to be ten divisions, rive erect, and five reflexed. 



