34 



SUMMARY. 



[CHAP. 



and pistillate flowers are destitute of calyx and corolla. 

 Having, therefore, no envelope to the essential organs, 

 they are called achlamydeous. The stamens, 2, 3, 5, or 

 rarely more, spring from the axil of a minute scale-like 

 leaf (bract), and constitute the male flower, of which a 

 number are crowded together upon the same catkin. The 

 pistil of the female flowers also springs from the axil of a 

 similar bract ; it is syncarpous, consisting of 2 carpels, as 

 indicated by the bifid stigma and 2 short rows of ovules 



FIG. 24. Staminate flower of 

 Willow (Great Sallow). 



FIG. 25. Pistillate flower of 

 same. 



in the single cavity of the ovary. The flowers of Great 

 Sallow may be described thus : Calyx o, corolla o ; 

 male flower, stamens 2 (diandrous\ pistil o ; female 

 flower, stamens o, pistil syncarpous. 



13. As the plants which we have hitherto examined 

 differ in many important particulars from those which 

 yet remain of the fifteen enumerated at the beginning 

 of the chapter, it may be well to review here some general 

 characters afforded both by the reproductive and nutri- 

 tive organs, which are common to all those we have 

 already done, and which are more or less markedly in 

 contrast with the characters presented by corresponding 

 organs of the plants yet to be examined. 



In nearly all the examined plants you find the leaves 



