1.] 



A BUTTERCUP. 



5 



consist of petiole and blade, or of blade only ; the blade 

 being spread out horizontally. We now come to the 

 examination of the 



4. FLOWERS, and as the leaves of which these consist 

 are smaller than the foliage-leaves, and some of them, in 

 the buttercup, very small indeed, it will be necessary that 

 you be very careful in your observations, making sure 

 that you thoroughly understand every stage of your 

 progress. 



The upper part of the stem serves as a stalk to the 

 flower. Flower-stalks are distinguished as peduncles. 

 The peduncle of the buttercup may be either round or 

 furrowed, according to the kind which you have gathered. 

 Before proceeding to dissect (to separate carefully into 

 its pieces) a flower, select one that has but just opened, 

 and which has lost none of the parts which it possessed 

 while still a bud j that is, before it expanded. 



Observe, first, that all the coloured leaves which form 

 the flower are apparently arranged upon the very summit 



FIG. 



2. Vertical section of flower of Buttercup, showing the parts cf the 

 flower inse-ted upon a conical receptacle. 



of the stein. The internodes of the stem which separate 

 the upper foliage-leaves cease, or are suppressed, in the 

 flower, so that all the parts are in close juxtaposition. 

 This is characteristic of flowers. The top of the flower- 

 bearing stem, from which the flower-leaves collective!} 

 spring, is called the receptacle, or floral receptacle. 



