THE PARTS OF THE FLOWER. 167 



and it is from the membranous white scales or bracts (palece) forming 

 the choke attached to the edible receptacle, that the flowers are pro- 

 duced. The sterile bracts of the Daisy occasionally produce capitula, 

 and give rise to the Hen-and-Chicken Daisy. In place of developing 

 flower-buds, bracts may, in certain circumstances, as in proliferous or 

 viviparous flowers, produce leaf-buds. 



349. A sheathing bract enclosing one or several flowers, is called 

 a spatha or spathe. It is common among Endogens, as Narcissus, Arum 

 (fig. 239 b), and Palms. It is often associated with the spadix, and may 

 be coloured as in Calla or Richardia ajthiopica. When the spadix is 

 compound or branching, as in Palms, there are smaller spathes sur- 

 rounding separate parts of the inflorescence, to which the name spa- 

 thellce has sometimes been given. The spathe protects the flowers in 

 their young state, and often falls off after they are developed, or hangs 

 down in a withered form, as in some Palms, Typha, and Pothos. In 

 grasses, the outer scales have been considered as sterile bracts, and 

 have received the name of glumes, and in Cyperaceas bracts enclose 

 the organs of reproduction. 



3. THE FLOWER AND ITS APPENDAGES. 



350. The Flower consists of whorled leaves placed on an axis, the 

 internodes of which are not developed. This shortened axis is the 

 Thalamus or torus. There are usually four of these whorls or ver- 

 ticils : 1. The outer one called the calyx. 2. The corolla. 3. The 

 stamens. 4. The most internal one, tine pistil. Each of these consist nor- 

 mally of several parts, which, like leaves, follow a law of alternation. 

 Thus, the flower of Crassula rubens (fig. 258) presents a calyx, c c, 

 composed of five equal pieces arranged in a whorl ; a corolla, p p, 

 also five parts, placed in a whorl Avithin the e t 



former, and occupying the intervals between 



the five parts of the calyx ; five stamens, e e e, 



in the spaces between the parts of the corolla, 



and consequently opposite those of the calyx; 



and five parts of the pistil, o o, which follow 



the same law of arrangement. Again, in 



Scilla italica, the parts are arranged in sets of 



three in place of five, as shown in fig. 259, 



where p' p' p' are three parts of the external 



whorl ; p" p" p", three of the next whorl ; 258 



e 7 , an outer row of stamens ; e", an inner row ; o, the pistil formed 



of three parts. It is distinctly seen in these instances, that the parts of 



the flower are to be regarded as leaves arranged on a depressed or 



shortened axis. 



Fiff. 258. Flower of Crassula rubens. c c, Foliola of calyx or sepals, p p. Petals, e e, Stamens. 

 o o. Carpels, each of them having a small scale-like appendage, a, at their base. 



