176 ORGANOGRAPHY. BOOK I. 



into the cavity, uniting and forming many supernumerary 

 cells, as in Diplophractum. 



11. Of the Receptacle. 



The part upon which the carpels are seated is the apex of 

 the peduncle, or the summit of the floral branch, of which the 

 carpels are the termination. Usually this part, which is called 

 the receptacle, is flat, or merely a vanishing point ; but in 

 other cases it is very much dilated, and then assumes a variety 

 of curious appearances. This receptacle is called torus, or 

 thalamus as well as receptaculum, and, in Greek compounds, 

 has the name of clinium. 



In Annonacea; and Magnoliaceae it elevates itself from the 

 base of the calyx, and bears the numerous stamens peculiar 

 to these orders: here it is called Gonophore (Gonophorum) by 

 De Candolle. In Caryophylleae the receptacle is elongated, 

 and bears on its summit the petals and stamens : De Candolle 

 calls this form Anthophore (Anthophorum). Wlien it is suc- 

 culent and much dilated, so as to resemble the receptacle of a 

 Composita, bearing at the same time many ovaries, as in the 

 Strawberry and Raspberry, Richard calls it Polyphore : most 

 commonly such a receptacle is sufficiently described by the 

 adjective fleshy. If only a single row of carpels developes 

 upon such a receptacle, as in Ochna, and there is an oblique 

 inclination of the carpels toM'ards the axis of the flower, we 

 have the Gynohase (Plate V. fig. 3. a); in the Geranium this 

 part is remarkable for being lengthened into a tapering 

 woody cone to which the styles adhere in the form of a beak. 

 In Nelumbium it is excavated into a number of cavities, in 

 which the ovaries are half hidden. It may be conjectured 

 that the receptacle is in reality the growing point of the 

 flower bud, and that it is analogous to the spongy head of the 

 spadix in Arum, and to the hard spines of the Black-thorn. 



12. Of the Ovule. 



The Ovule (Plate V. fig. 16. to 26.) is a small, semipel- 

 Incid, pulpy body, borne by the placenta, and gradually chan- 



i 



