COMPOUND FLOWER. 



lowest, as well as the highest orders of creation, are equally 

 and constantly under the superintendence of an Almighty 

 agent. 



RECEPTACLE. 



The receptacle is the dilated apex, or extremity of the 

 flower-stalk, or the point of connection between the peduncle 

 and the flower. In most plants it is not distinguished by any 

 particular figure. But in the compound flowers, which 

 chiefly constitute the class Syngenesia, and in describing 

 which, this term is mostly employed, the receptacle is a re- 

 markable and highly important part. When the downy seeds 

 of the Dandelion and Thistle, have taken their flight, the 

 button-shaped, naked and expanded part which remains on 

 the extremity of the stalk, is the receptacle. 



Fig. 154, 0, represents this part in such a state, 

 most of the seeds having disappeared, the points, 

 or dots on its surface showing the places of their 

 attachment. 



The term receptacle, is also employed to desig- 

 nate that thread-like part of the ament to which 

 the florets are attached. On stripping the chaffy 

 scales from the ament of the willow, or chestnut, 

 the filament which remains is the receptacle. 

 Under the name of columella, or pillar, this term also signifies 

 that part of any fruit to which the seeds are attached. The 

 cob of an ear of Indian corn is the columella. 



COMPOUND FLOWER. 



A compound flower consists of many small flowers, or 

 florets, each having its stamens, or pistils, or both, on the 

 same common receptacle. The Daisy, Sun-flower and 

 Dandelion, are familiar examples. In the flowers of this 

 class, the anthers of the florets, or each individual little 

 flower, are united into a cylinder. The chief exceptions 

 to this, exist in the genus Tussilago, or Colt's foot, and the 



What is the receptacle of a flower ? In what tribe of plants is the re- 

 ceptacle most important 1 What part of an ament is called the recepta- 

 cle ' What is a compound flower ? What plants are familiar examplei 

 of the compound flower' 



