106 EXAMINATION OF FLOWERS. 



1 0. In tne examination of the compound flowers, the be- 

 ginner may find some difficulty in distinguishing the parts 

 from each other, in such a manner as to satisfy himself con- 

 cerning the orders. But the mode of examination is so sim- 

 ple as hardly to require any directions, since most that is re- 

 quired, is to distinguish the stamens from the pistils, the disk 

 from the ray, and the tubular from the ligulate florets. With 

 respect to distinguishing the genera, there is more difficulty, 

 since it requires considerable practice to decide, when the 

 involucre is oblong, or conical, ventricose, or globose, ovate, or 

 cylindrical ; or when the receptacle is palaceous or villous, 

 &c. and to point out the difference of the species from each 

 other, as indicated by these terms. Nor is there any means 

 by which this kind of knowledge can be obtained except by 

 actual practice. 



11. In the class GYNANDRIA, the flowers are so peculiar, 

 that the pupil after having examined a few specimens, will 

 in general, be able to refer the others to their proper places. 

 Nearly all the plants of this class belong to ORDER 1st. 

 The stamens, instead of being situated around the ovarium, 

 or style, as in other classes, are in this, situated on the style 

 itself. Nor do they resemble these parts in other plants, but 

 consist of solitary, fleshy, undivided processes, or masses, 

 which appear more like the nectaries of other plants, than 

 like the organs of re-production. 



12. In the class MONCECIA, where the stamens and pistils 

 reside in different flowers, the difference between them is 

 often quite obvious. The pupil, on gathering several flowers 

 of this class, from the same plant, and comparing them with 

 the descriptions of genera, will soon learn to distinguish the 

 barren from the fertile flowers. 



13. With respect to the class DICECIA, there is often very 

 little difference in the appearance of the barren and fruitful 

 aments, except the presence of the pollen. On examination, 

 however, with the assistance of Botanical descriptions, the 

 pupil will soon be enabled to distinguish the stameniferous, 

 from the pistiliferous trees, and the satisfaction of doing so, 

 will amply repay him for his labor, since this class contains 

 some of the most lofty, and noble plants in the vegetable 

 kingdom. 



