258 



THE FLOWER. 



bined into a tube for the greater part of their length (see Ord. Lo- 

 beliacese). The same thing is seen in 

 the Gourd tribe, where the anthers are 

 sometimes long and sinuous or remark- 

 ably contorted, as well as coherent into 

 a mass (Fig. 311-313). 



463. The union of the pistils is still 

 more common than that of the stamens. 

 It occurs in every degree, from the par- 

 tial combination of the ovaries, as in 

 Penthorum (Fig. 290), &c., to their com- 

 plete union while the styles remain dis- 

 tinct, as in the St. John's-wort (Ord. 

 Hypericacese), to the partial union of 

 the latter, as in the Mallow, or to the 



perfect union of the styles also into a single body, as in Convol- 

 vulus. In some cases, the styles are wholly combined, while the 

 ovaries are only partially so ; and in the Milk- weed, the stigmas 

 are united, while the ovaries are distinct. But the structure 

 of the compound or syncarpous pistil will require particular illus- 

 tration farther on. When there is no such union, but the sev- 

 eral organs of the same circle are separate or unconnected, they 

 are said to be distinct. 



464. The terms union, cohesion, and the like, must not be un- 

 derstood to imply (as they might, without explanation), that the 

 organs in question were first formed as distinct parts, and subse- 

 quently cohered. This is seldom the case. The union is congen- 

 ital ; the members of a gamosepalous calyx, a gamopetalous corol- 

 la, a monadelphous circle of stamens, or a compound pistil, were 

 developed in connection, and showed their union from the earliest 

 period. The language we use has reference to our idea of these 

 parts, as answering each to a single leaf. We might more correctly 

 say that the several leaves of the same circle have failed to isolate 

 themselves as they grew. The same remark applies to the case of 



465. Adnation, or the union of different circles of floral organs 

 with one another. This may take place in various degrees. It 

 presents the appearance of one circle or set of parts growing out 



FIG. 311. Column of stamens, at once triadelphous and syngenesious, of the Gourd: the 

 floral envelopes cut away. 312. A cross-section of the united anthers, nearly the natural size. 

 313. A sinuous anther of the Melon. 



