332 On the Structure and Formation of Flowers. 



May 4. Senscio gracilis, /. /. Erythronium albidnm 

 (JV««.) /. /.; this would be a very desirable addition to our 

 gardens, in company with our E. Dens-canis, (americanum) ; 

 flowers delicate purplish white ; sepals at base, yellow. 

 Stdam ternatum /. /. Dielytra eximia, {De CandoUe)., f.f-; 

 resembles D. formusa, better known as " Corydalisformosa;" 

 but instead of rose-colored flowers, it has the purest white, 

 and highly scented; root tuberous. As a new and rare 

 species of that elegant vernal family of plants, it is worthy 

 the attention of the floriculturist. 



The first blossoms of the peach (Persica vvdgaris) and 

 cherry (Prunus cerasus, L. var.) were seen on the 2od April. 



It is to be observed that the season was several weeks 



later than usual, and vegetation was rather more than usually 



tardy in its operations. j t o . 



•' ^ John Lewis Kussell. 



Pittsburgh, Pa., May, 1835. 



Art. VII. On the Structure and Formation of Flowers. By J. W. 

 Russell, Superintendent at Mount Auburn. 



There are a great many persons extremely fond of 

 flowers, that have very erroneous ideas of their structure 

 and parts of fructification. I think a few brief remarks, 

 circulated through the medium of your very excellent 

 Magazine, on this subject, will be interesting to a portion of 

 your readers. 



By a flower was originally understood what is now consid- 

 ered as only forming a part not essential to the reproduction 

 of the species; namely, the calyx, corolla, or bractes. Lin- 

 nseus has defined a flower to consist of such parts as are 

 necessary to the production of seed; and hence infers, that 

 its essence consists in the stamina and pistillum. But we 

 certainly speak of the flower of a cucumber, which has only 

 one of these parts, or of the flower of the double stock, 

 which has neither of them, with as correct an idea of it, as 

 we speak of the flower of a peach, which has both these, 

 and also all the other parts which constitute a perfect 

 flower. A perfect flower consists of four parts, — the calyx, 

 the corolla, the stamina, and the stigma. 



The calyx is the outer envelope of the flower, and derives 

 its name from its resemblance to a cup, containing all the 



