THE STRUCTURE OF FLOWERS. 53 



the calyx begin to separate, opening like the sweet, 

 soft eyelids of a little child, when it looks forth again 

 after the peace of its scarcely-breathing slumber. 

 With the first slight push from within, the green sep- 

 arates, and a line of crimson gleams in the space ; by 

 degrees the fissure widens, and in due time, like the 

 opening of the portals of some glorious temple, all is 

 thrown back, and the petals stream out in their match- 

 less hue. The same with the poppy. Two concave 

 leaves clasp the inner secrets in their green embrace, 

 and the bud hangs with its head to the earth until all 

 is ready. Then the line of crimson announces what 

 is coming, and great scarlet petals, that flaunt like 

 banners, are disclosed. Similarly the peony unpacks 

 great round green balls, and every other plant its pe- 

 culiar cluster or bunch, everything creeping out of 

 this " calyx," in the first place, and seldom discard- 

 ing it, though the special utility has ceased. Some- 

 times the calyx, instead of being green, is highly col- 

 ored, emulating the most dainty parts of the interior 

 of the flower. This happens in the common fuchsia, 

 which has a calyx of four pieces, coherent by their 

 edges, so as to form an oval and crimson bag, which 

 yields to the pressure of the fingers. In other plants, 

 again, the calyx is extremely minute, so small as to 

 be incapable of giving adequate protection; then 

 the protective purpose is subserved by special leafy 

 coverings called "bracts," as we may plainly see in 



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