92 



PROSERPINA. 



*o^ 



calyx thought that it was going to be the head of 

 the family, and curls upwards eagerly. Then the little 

 corolla steals out ; and soon 

 does away with that impression 

 on the mind of the calyx. The 

 corolla soars up with widening 

 wings, the abashed calyx re- 

 treats beneath ; and finally the 

 great upper leaf of corolla — not 

 pleased at having its back 

 still turned to the light, and 

 its face down — throws itself 

 entirely back, to look at the 

 sky, and nothing else; — and 

 your blossom is complete. 



Keeping, therefore, the ideas 

 of calyx and corolla entirely 

 distinct, this one general point 

 you may note of both : that, 

 as a calyx is originally folded 

 tight over the flower, and has 

 to open deeply to let it out, 

 it is nearly always composed 

 of sharp pointed leaves like the 

 segments of a balloon ; while 

 corollas, having to open out as wide as possible to 

 show themselves, are typically like cups or plates, 



Fig. 9. 



