110 



THE FLOWER 



a single pistil with the basal scale (Figs. 149-152). The 

 seed-bearing flowers of the Pine and other Coniferce, as 

 already described, contain only pistils; their pollen- 

 bearing flowers, only stamens. When a flower lacks 

 both gynoecium and andrcecium, it either becomes merely 

 tributary to other, fertile flowers as in the case of the 

 marginal florets in the heads of the Sunflower or it 

 lacks altogether the essential character of a flower proper, 

 as regards purpose, either directly or indirectly ; as in the 

 double Rose and other flowers transformed by cultivation. 



208. The floral leaves together are called the perianth, 

 meaning about the flower a term not far from appropriate 

 if what has just been said is allowed. Commonly, two 

 distinct sets of these leaves are present : the inner called 

 petals, together forming the corolla; the outer termed 

 sepals, composing the calyx. 



209. The number of sepals and petals in particular 

 species is generally constant. In a majority of the Dicotyle- 

 dons' the sepals are five, and the petals five, though four is 

 a. common number ; in Monocotyledons the members of 



the perianth are prevailingly in 

 threes. As the stamens are apt 

 to be as many or twice as many 

 as the petals or sepals, a numerical 

 plan is often prominent in the 

 parts of the flower. We say that 

 the flowers of the Dicotyledons 

 are often on the plan of five, those 

 of the Monocotyledons on the plan 

 of three. 



210. Forms of the corolla. As 

 an example of the regular corolla 

 i.e. with petals all alike the 

 flowers of any of the Rose family 

 may be recalled ; but the Colum- 

 bine (Fig. 153) as well, since all the petals are spurred, 

 presents a regular corolla. In the Violet (Fig. 154), on 

 the contrary, only one petal is spurred, and the petals 



153. Flower of the Colum- 

 bine. 



