CHAPTER VI. 



DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLOWER. 



Growing point and lateral appendages Cessation of apical growth 

 Crowding of parts and non-development of internodes Con- 

 crescence of parts Reductions of parts Changes in order of 

 succession Development of Buttercup Of Heliopsis Of 

 Rose, &c. 



The very fact that we speak of the young state of a flower 

 as a "bud" indicates that resemblances have been observed 

 between it and other buds, and these resemblances are real. 

 For if we cut and examine a vertical median section through 

 a young flower-bud such as a Buttercup, it is easy to see 

 that all the parts spring as lateral outgrowths from a 

 dome-like growing point. If very young stages are chosen, 

 properly prepared, and examined under the microscope, it 

 will be found that the generalisations already made as to 

 the behaviour of a growing point in giving off lateral 

 growing points (Vol. i. p. 11) apply also to the flower 

 that is to say, the terminal dome of embryonic tissue 

 puts out lateral domes which may branch in their turn 

 and so extend its surface, and these lateral outgrowths 

 become sepals, petals, stamens, &c., instead of ordinary 

 leaves, branches, &c. 



In the flower, however, it is very rare to find matters 

 so simple as in an ordinary bud, and this is due to 



