5io 



BOTANY OF THE LIVING PLANT 



The pollination is not highly specialised ; the symmetry is radial ; the 

 attractions are colour, and honey on the carpels ; there is slight protandry, 



and the stamens mature in succession, 

 so that the supply of pollen is prolonged. 

 There is a probability of intercrossing, 

 but self-pollination is possible. 



The fruit is a group of follicles, which 

 open by their ventral sutures, and gap- 

 ing widely upwards allow their seeds to 

 escape (Fig. 415, A). 



(16) The Buttercup (Ranunculus 

 acris, L., or other species) is more 

 specialised, having both calyx and 

 corolla ; but the flower is constructed on 

 a similar plan ; as follows : (Fig. 416.) 

 Calyx, sepals 5, polysepalous inferior, 

 imbricate in bud, the outermost being 

 obliquely anterior. 



Corolla, petals 5, polypetalous, alternating with the sepals, inferior yellow, 

 with a honey-pouch on the upper face of each, near the base (Fig. 416, 2). 



Androecium, stamens indefinite, free, hypogynous ; the outermost maturing 

 earliest. 



A B 



. FIG. 415. 



A, Follicles of Aconite. (After Figuier.). 



B, Achene or nut of Buttercup. (After Figuier.) 



FIG. 416. 



Buttercup (Ranunculus acris, L.). i, Flower in median section. 2, a single petal. 

 3, the gynoecium. 4, the same in section. 5, floral diagram. 



Gynoecium, carpels indefinite, apocarpous, superior : each contains only a 

 single anatropous ovule ; otherwise similar in form to the fewer and larger 

 carpels of Caltha. 



