46.] 



THE ESSENTIAL ORGANS. 



55 



sists of the united circle of petals. The union occurs 

 in every degree, commencing at the base of the ovary 

 and proceeding upward. Thus in Columbine, we see 

 the carpels (pistils) distinct ; in early Saxifrage, coher- 

 ing just at base ; in Pink, as far as the top of the 

 ovaries, with styles distinct ; in Spring-beauty, to the 

 top of the styles, with stigmas distinct ; and in Rho- 

 dodendron, the union is complete throughout. 



132 



126, Ovary (follicle) of Larkspur, composed of a single carpellary leaf. 127, Ovaries of the Columbine, 

 five, contiguous but Distinct. 128, Compound ovary of Hypericum, of carpels united below with distinct 

 styles. 129, Ovary of another Hypevicum of three carpels completely united. 130, Ovary of Flax; carpels 

 five, united below, distinct above. 131, Dianthus {Pink). 132, Saxifraga. *yl 



131. To determine the number of carpels in a com- 

 pound ovary is an important and sometimes difficult 

 matter. It may be known : 1st, By the number of the 

 styles ; or, 2 d, By the number of the free stigmas (re- 

 membering that these organs are liable to be halved 

 129) ; or, 3d, By the lobes, angles, or seams of the 

 ovary ; or, 4th, By the cells ; or, 5th, By the placentae. 

 But in Dodecatheon, etc., all these indications fail, so 

 perfect is the union, and we are left to decide from 

 analogy alone. 



132. The student will notice two very diverse 

 modes of cohesion in the carpels of the compound 

 ovary. First and regularly, the carpels may each be 

 closed, as when simple, and joined by their sides and 



