CHAPTER XXXVI. 



RELATIONSHIPS SHOWN BY FLOWER AND FRUIT. 



369. Importance of the flower in showing kinships among 

 the higher plants, In the seed-bearing plants which we are 

 now studying we cannot fail to be impressed with the general 

 presence of what is called the flower. 



While the spore-bearing members, as well as the floral 

 envelopes, are thus grouped into "flowers;" there is a great 

 diversity in the number, arrangement, and interrelation of these 

 members, as is suggested by our study of trillium and dentaria. 

 And a farther examination of the flowers of different plants 

 would reveal a surprising variety of plans. Nevertheless, if we 

 compare the flower of trillium with that of a lily for example, 

 or the flower of dentaria with that of the shepherd's purse 

 (capsella), we shall at once be struck with the similarity in the 

 plan of the flower, and in the number and arrangement of its 

 members. This suggests to us that there may be some kinship, 

 or relationship between the lily and trillium, and between the 

 shepherd's purse and toothwort. In fact it is through the 

 interpretation of these different plans that we are able to read 

 in the book of nature of the relationship of these plants. 



NOTE FOR REFERENCE. 



370. Arrangement of flowers. The arrangement of the 

 flowers (inflorescence) on the stem is important in showing 

 kinships. The flowers may be scattered and distant from each 

 other on the plant, or they may be crowded close together in 



225 



