The Science of Plant Growing 63 



5. The Ovule. A young seed before it has been fertilized is termed 

 an ovule. A Buttercup or Strawberry contains only one ovule in each 

 carpel; a Cherry or Peach contains two, but only one reaches maturity. 

 The Pea may have from four or five to a dozen, arranged along the edges 

 of the ventral suture, one of the two separable edges of the pod. The Pansy 



Fig. 52. A Monoecious Plant 



1, Pistillate flowers on upper part of twig of Oak (Quercus pedunculate); staminate flowers in drooping catkins 

 below (nat. size). 2, Single pistillate (female) flower. 3, Three staminate (male) flowers, x 4. 



has numerous ovules, in three distinct rows on the side walls of the ovary, 

 and defined as parietal. In the White Lily they are on the inner angles 

 of the cells of the ovary, and therefore axile. ' The part to which they 

 are attached is termed the placenta in each case. The placenta is free 

 and central in the Chinese Primula, and the ovules are inserted all over it. 



6. The Receptacle. After all the parts of a flower have been removed 

 there remains, as a rule, a small core or axis, which is the receptacle, and 



