5i8 BOTANY OF THE LIVING PLANT 



Corolla, petals 5, polypetalous, alternating with sepals, paler coloured. 

 Androecium, stamens 5, alternating with petals ; seated on rim of recep- 

 tacular tube. 



FIG. 423. 

 Inflorescence of Currant : a raceme. (After Figuier.) 



FIG. 424. 



Berries of the Currant. 

 (After Figuier.) 



Gynoecium, carpels 2, syncarpous, ovary inferior, unilocular, with numerous 

 ovules seated on lateral placentas, ovules anatropous. 



Fruit, an inferior berry (Fig. 424). 



Pollination. The flowers are attractive by colour, and by grouping in 

 racemes. Honey is secreted at the base of the receptacular tube. The flowers 

 are very slightly protogynous, and are pollinated chiefly by bees ; but self- 

 pollination is also possible. 



ORDER : ROSALES. 

 Family : ROSACEAE. Examples : STRAWBERRY, APPLE, CHERRY, ETC. 



The Rosaceae are herbs, shrubs, and trees, with alternate stipulate leaves. 

 They are widely distributed, especially in temperate zones, and are largely 

 represented among cultivated flowers and fruits. The flowers are actino- 

 morphic, and usually pentamerous ; but the stamens are often numerous. 

 The Family is specially instructive from the variability in development of the 

 receptacle, so that it includes perigynous and epigynous types. There is also 

 great variability in the number of the carpels. But still it is a very natural 

 group, the flowers being referable to the same fundamental construction as 

 the Saxifragaceae, to which they are closely allied. 



