REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OI PLANTS. 291 



The assimilation of carbon in the plant is most inti 

 mately connected with the chlorophyll, which has been no 

 ticed as the green coloring matter of the leaf, and depends 

 also upon the solar rays. 



CHAPTER IY. 

 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF PLANTS. 



1- 



THE FLOWER. 



The onward growth of the stem or of its branches is 

 not necessarily limited, until from the terminal buds, in 

 stead of leaves, only FLOWERS unfold. When this happcMis, 

 as is the case with most annual and biennial plants, raised 

 on the farm or in the garden, the vegetative energy has usu 

 ally attained its fullest development, and the reproductive 

 function begins to prepare for the death of the individual 

 by providing seeds which shall perpetuate the species. 



There is often at first no apparent difference between 

 the leaf-buds and flower-buds, but commonly in the later 

 stages of their growth, the latter are to be readily dis 

 tinguished from the former by their greater size, and by 

 peculiar shape or color. 



The Flower is a short branch, bearing a collection of 

 orgnns, which, though usually having little resemblance 

 to foliage, may be considered as leaves, more or less mod 

 ified in form, color, and office. 



The flower commonly presents four different sets of or 

 gans, viz , Calyx, Corolla, Stamens, and Pistils, and is 

 then said to be complete, as in case of the apple, potato 



