STRUCTURE.] OVARY. 363 



occasionally produced upon the highly developed disk of 

 Paeonia Moutan. To which may be added the observation 

 of Dunal, that half the disk of Cistus vaginatus occasionally 

 turns into stamens. (Considerations, &c., p. 44.) 



Like the petals, sepals, and stamens, the disk always origi- 

 nates below the pistil ; but it often contracts an adhesion with 

 the sides of the calyx, when it becomes perigynous, as in Amyg- 

 dalus ; or with both the calyx and the sides of an inferior 

 ovary, when it becomes epigynous, as in Umbelliferous plants. 



11. Of the Pistil. 



The last organ to enumerate in the flower is that which 

 constitutes the female system, or gynaceum of Roper, and 

 which is usually called the pistil. In all cases it occupies the 

 centre of the flower, terminating the axis of growth of the 

 peduncle : and is consequently the part around which every 

 other organ, without exception, is arranged in hermaphrodite 

 structures. 



It is distinguished into three parts ; viz. the ovary 

 (Plate V. fig. 7. a.), the style (fig. 7. /.), and the stigma 

 (fig. l.g.}. 



The OVARY, called germen by Linnaeus, is a hollow case 

 placed at the base of the pistil, enclosing the ovules, and 

 always containing one or more cells or cavities. It is the 

 part which ultimately becomes the fruit ; and consequently, 

 whatever may be the structure of the ovary, such must 

 necessarily be that of the fruit : allowance being made, as 

 will hereafter be explained, for changes that may occur during 

 the progress of the ovary to maturity. 



Notwithstanding what has been stated of the pistil con- 

 stantly occupying the centre of the flower, and being the part 

 around which all the other parts are arranged, an apparent 

 exception exists in those flowers the calyx of which is said to 

 be superior (Plate V. fig. 7 & 9.), as the Apple blossom. In 

 this instance, the ovary seems to originate below the calyx, 

 corolla, and male system ; on which account it is said to be 

 inferior in such cases, while in the opposite state it is called 



