52 STRUCTURAL BOTANY. [43, 44. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



OF THE ESSENTIAL ORGANS. THE PISTILS. 



123. The Gynaeceum occupies the center of the 

 flower, at the termination of the axis. It consists 

 regularly of a circle of distinct pistils ( 60), sym- 

 metrical in number with the other circles. It is sub- 

 ject to great variation. The pistil may be distinct 

 and simple, as in Columbine, or coherent in various 

 degrees into a compound body, as in St. Johnswort. 

 Also instead of being free and superior, as it regularly 

 should be, it may adhere to the other circles, as 

 already explained ( 97), and become inferior ; that 

 is, apparently placed below the flower, as in the Cur- 

 rant (52). 



124. The number of the pistils is by no means 

 confined to the radical of the flower. They may be 

 increased by multiples, becoming a spiral on a length- 

 ened receptacle, as in Tulip-tree, or still remaining a 

 circle, as in Poppy. On the other hand, they may be 

 reduced in number often to one, as in Cherry and Pea. 

 Certain terms are employed to denote the number of 

 pistils in the flower, such as monogynous, with one 

 pistil ; trigynous, with three ; polygynous, with many, 

 etc. 



125. The simple pistil may usually be known from 

 the compound, by its one-sided forms having two 

 sides similar and two dissimilar. If the pistils appear 

 distinct, they are all simple, never being united into 

 more than one set, as the stamens often are. The 



