MON(ECIOUS FLOWERS. 



49 



wither away and are apparently of no use. An atten- 

 tive inspection will show that some of the blossoms 

 have oblong fleshy protuber-, 

 ances beneath them, whilst 

 others are destitute of these 

 attachments. Select a flower 

 of each kind, and examine first 

 the one with the protuberance 

 (Fig. 63), which latter, from 

 its appearance, you will pro- 

 bably have rightly guessed to be 

 the ovary. The situation of the 

 ovary here, indeed, is the same 

 as in the Willow-herb. The Fig> 63 . 

 calyx-tube adheres to its surface, and is prolonged to 

 some little distance above it, expanding finally into five 

 teeth. The corolla is gamopetalous, and is adherent to 

 the calyx. Remove now the calyx and the adherent 

 corolla, and there is left in the centre of the flower a 

 short column, terminating in three stigmas, each two. 

 lobed. 



There are no stamens. 



68. Now examine the other blossom (Fig. 64). Calyx 

 and corolla have almost exactly 

 the same appearance as before. 

 Remove them, and you have left 

 three stamens growing on the 

 calyx-tube, and slightly united 

 by their anthers (syngenesious). 

 Fig. 64. Tli ere is no pistil. 



Fig. 63. Pistillate flower of Cucumber. 

 Fig. 64. Staminate flower of Cucumber. 



