xxxii Definitions. 



19. With regard to the end of the leaf, the terms used are pointed ; 

 acute when the point is sharp ; blunt, or obtuse ; truncate when the 

 end is cut off more or less abruptly ; retuse when, being blunt, it is 

 also slightly indented. Leaves sometimes end in spines, or bristles, 

 or awns, which are fine but stiff hairs. 



Note. When two terms are combined, as linear-lanceolate, oval- 

 oblong, it is understood that the shape is something between the 

 two, and in such cases the leaves generally vary, more or less, from 

 one shape to the other. 



20. The above terms apply not only to sepals, petals, bracts, etc., 

 but also to stipules, which are leaf -like appendages (generally small) 

 at the base of the petiole. Stipels are the stipules of leaflets. 



Floral leaves are the small leaves which are often found close to the 

 flower, especially in spikes and racemes. They are often scarcely 

 distinguishable from bracts. 



Note that "sub" is prefixed to adjectives of description (sub- 

 lanceolate, sub-acid, etc.) to modify them, and is equivalent to " more 

 or less," or " a little." 



21. IV. THE FLOWER. A perfect flower should have the following 

 parts present and capable of performing their functions, viz. calyx, 

 corolla, stamens, pistil. The flower is considered imperfect if any of 

 these are absent or imperfect. Each of these organs consists of 

 several parts, which have their technical names. 



22. Calyx and Corolla. The calyx (or cup, so called from its usual 

 shape) is the outer or protecting covering (or envelope), generally 

 green, which encloses the other parts of the flower when in bud. 

 The segments into which the calyx is generally divided are called 

 sepals, which are either quite distinct or more or less united. The 

 calyx very often falls oft before the fruit matures ; when it remains 

 and is attached to the fruit it is called persistent. Tha position of 

 the calyx with regard to the ovary will be mentioned under the 

 latter organ. 



23. The corolla is the inner or attractive covering or envelope, and 

 being usually coloured and larger than the calyx, is that which 

 generally gives the flower its beauty, and is, in fact, in common 

 speech often called the flower. The divisions are called petals, and 

 these may be all equal and symmetrical, in which case the corolla is 

 regular, or unequal, in which case it is irregular. For examples 

 of extreme irregularity see orders BalsamineaB and Orchideae. On 

 the corolla being all in one piece (rnonopetalous), or divided into 

 several petals (polypetalous'), a good deal depends in the classification 

 of plants. 



24. Of the monopetalous corolla, the lower part, which is entirely 

 united, is called the tube, but this may be, and often is, so short as to 

 have nothing tubular in appearance. The upper part of the corolla 

 is then called the limb, and this is generally divided into lobes or seg- 

 ments : in practice, these lobes, if divided deeply, are often called, 

 though not correctly, petals. 



A corolla is called tubular when the whole or the greater part of it 

 is in the form of a tube or cylinder, as in either of the Plumbagos, 

 bell-shaped (campanulate) when more or less in the shape of a bell; 



