162 ORGANIC METAMORPHOSIS OF LEAVES 



ance, the term being quite as applicable to them as to a 

 rose or lily. Brilliant and highly-colored floral envelopes 

 must be regarded as characteristic of the more highly 

 organized flowers. These gradually lose their bright at- 

 tractions, as we descend in Nature, until they become 

 green and inconspicuous, as in Nettles, and in the Pigweed 

 (AmarantJius hybridus) ; and, finally, their place is sup- 

 plied by rudimentary leaves or bracts, as in Grasses and 

 Birch trees ; or they are suppressed altogether, as in the 

 Lizard's Tail (Saururm cernuous) and "Willow. 



A few brief remarks may now be made in reference 

 more immediately to the reproductive functions exercised 

 by the stamens and pistils. Let us take, as an example, the 

 Apple tree. This tree is beautiful in spring, when covered 

 with blossoms, and still more attractive in autumn, when 

 loaded with fruit ; and it is desirable, in this place, to say 

 something about the way in which both the flowers and 

 fruit are formed. 



When the period of puberty arrives, the branches of this 

 tree cease to elongate, and their terminal buds assume a 

 swollen appearance, and give birth to a cluster of little 

 twigs, or stalks, each supporting a flower-bud. These 

 flower-buds unfold themselves about the same time as the 

 regular leaf-buds ; but the leaves which they contain do 

 not separate like those developed by the leaf-buds ; on the 

 contrary, they remain crowded together in clusters at the 

 summit of each flower-stalk, or peduncle. 



If we examine the leaves of the flower which have been 

 thus crowded together, we shall be struck with admiration 

 at the simplicity and beauty of the means which Nature 

 has adopted to effect her object. The outer leaves of this 

 floral cluster, although greatly diminished in size, still re- 

 tain their green hue, and form a sort of cup-like envelope, 

 called, for that reason, by Botanists, the calyx. Situated 

 immediately next are the leaves of the corolla, or garland, 

 so called on account of their ornamental appearance. 

 These are the most showy leaves in each set ; they are 

 slightly tinged with pink, and of a dazzling whiteness. 



