ELEMENTARY ORGANS. 



Every plant is either Phenogamous, or Cryptogamous. 



Phenogamous plants have their stamens and pistils 

 sufficiently manifest lor examination. 



Cryptogamous plants either lose the staminate organs 

 before they become manifest, or they are too minute for 

 inspection. 



The Classes 9 Orders and Genera of the Linnean system, 

 are founded wholly on the seven elementary organs of 

 fructification. 



These are, 



1. Calyx. The outer or lower part of the flower, gener- 

 ally not coloured.* 



2. Carol. The coloured blossom, within or above the 

 calyx. 



3. Stamens. The mealy or glutinous knobs in the flower, 

 with or without filamentous organs. 



4. Pistil. The central organ of the flower, whose base 

 becomes the pericarp and seed. 



5. Pericarp. The covering of the seed, whether pod, 

 shell, bag, or pulpy substance. 



6. Seed. The essential part containing the rudiment of 

 a new plant. 



7. Receptacle. The base which sustains the other six parts, 

 being at the end of the flower-stem. 



SUBDIVISIONS OF THE CALYX. 



Every Calyx is either monophyllous, consisting of one 

 leaf; or polyphyllous, consisting of more than one leaf. 



1. Perianth. That calyx which adjoins and surrounds 

 the other parts of the flower, as of the apple, rose, &c. 

 About two thirds of all plants have perianths. 



2. Involucre. That calyx which comes out at some dis- 

 tance below the flower, and never encloses it. It is 



* In the language of Botany, any part of a plant is not coloured 

 when it is green ; us the calyx of the apple is said not to be coloured, 

 because it is green ; and Uut of the nusturiioii is coloured, because 

 H ia not green. 



