two or 



SECT. I. ORGANOGRAPHY AND GLOSSOLOGY. 99 



interposed between them. The construction of the 

 compound pistil will be more readily understood, by 

 considering the manner in which the carpels themselves 

 may be supposed to originate. Each carpel is an 

 organ, analogous to a leaf folded inwards upon its mid- 

 rib, so as to bring the edges into contact, which cohere 

 and form the " placenta/' and upon this the ovules are 

 produced. In general, the carpels may be likened to 

 a sessile leaf ; but in a few cases they are fur- 

 nished with a support (thecaphore) analogous 

 to the petiole. When two or more carpels 

 are placed closely in contact, and adhere to 

 gether by their sides, the compound ovarium 

 will contain two or more " cells" (fig. 100.) 

 And if the styles and stigmas also cohere, the 

 pistil will assume the appearance of a simple 

 organ, although, in fact, compounded of 

 more carpels. Where there 

 is more than one row of 

 carpels in the composition 

 of a pistil, this will con- 

 tain more than one tier 

 of cells ; as in the fruit of 

 the pomegranate (^. 101.). 



The stigma is variously 

 modified in different spe- 

 cies. It consists of vesi- 

 cles of cellular tissue de- 

 nuded of the epidermis, 

 excepting in a few cases, 

 where the thin pellicle which we have stated to form 

 the outer skin of this investing organ, appears to cover 

 it. 



(101.) Disk. The term " disk," is applied to a 

 portion of the torus between the calyx and pistil, 

 when it assumes a glandular, swollen, or fleshy appear- 

 ance This is always supposed to proceed from the 

 abortion, or imperfect development of some of the pe- 

 ri 2 



101 



