'Jh.Xl.J APPENDAGES TO PLANTS. 83 



p. ants for similar purposes as the fur, hair, and bristles of ani- 

 mals, viz. : to defend them from cold and other injuries. 



Fig 41. 



250. TJie Bract is a leaf among or 

 near the tiowers, different from the 

 leaves of the plant. In this branch, 

 (Fig. 41,) you observe the difference 

 between the real leaves (b b) and the 

 bract (a); the former being cordate 

 and crenate, the latter lanceolate and 

 entire. 



251. In some plants, as in several 

 species of the Sage, the transition 

 from leaves to bracts is so gradual, as 

 to render it difficult to distinguish be 

 tween them, and a considerable part 

 of the foliage is composed of bracts. 

 In other plants, as the Crown impe- 

 rial, the stem is terminated by a num- 

 ber of large and conspicuous bracts. 

 The appendages are sometimes mis- 

 taken for the calyx. 



252. We have now, in regular or- 

 der, considered the first of the two 

 classes of vegetable organs, viz.: such 

 as tend to the support and growth of 

 the plant, including root, stem, leaf. 

 and appendages ; we are next to en- 



te upon the description of a class of organs whose chief use 

 appears to bt that of bringing forward the fruit 



CHAPTER XL 



Different parts of the Flower. The Calyx. 



253. You are no doubt pleased to have arrived at the blo 

 som, that part of the plant which is the ornament of the ve^e 

 labie kingdom. Flowers are delightful to every lover of na- 



250. What is the bract? 



251. Is it always easy to distinguish bracts from leaves ? 

 2;VJ. What organs of the plant have we now considered ? 

 ?.'>H. What jart of the plant jsthe ornameut of the vegeiab <? 



