2 6 STRUCTURAL BOTANY. [21, 22. 



59. As we shall soon see, in all these variations 

 there is method. They are never capricious or acci- 

 dental, however much they may appear so. Unity in 

 diversity is characteristic of Nature in all her depart- 

 ments, and eminently so in the flowers ; and the first 

 step in the successful study of them is to discover 

 that unity that simple idea of the floral structure in 

 which all its diversities harmonize. Before flowers 

 were created, that idea or type was conceived; and to 

 possess it ourselves is a near approach to communion 

 with the Infinite Author of Nature. 



60. The typical flower, one that exemplifies the 

 full idea of the floral structure, consists of four differ- 

 ent circles of organs, as before described, placed circle 

 within circle on the torus, and all having a common 

 center. Such a flower must possess these five attri- 

 butes viz. : It must be 



a, Complete ; having the four kinds or sets of 

 organs arranged in as many concentric circles. That 

 it is perfect, having both kinds of the essential organs, 

 is necessarily included under its completeness. 



5, Regular ; having the organs of the same name 

 all similar and alike ; that is, all the petals of one 

 pattern, all the stamens alike in form, size, position, 

 etc. 



c, Symmetrical ; having the same number of organs 

 in each set or circle. 



d, Alternating in respect to the position of the 

 organs. This implies that the several organs of each 

 set stand not opposite to, but alternating with the 

 organs of the adjacent set; the petals alternate with 

 the sepals and stamens ; the stamens alternate with 

 the petals and pistils. 



