586 



BOTANY. 



Of the Flnwer and Fructification. The members 

 of the flower are the calyx, corolla, stamens, disk, 

 nectarium, pistillum, and receptacle. 



The Calyx. This is the external investment of the 

 flower, and in which it sits as in a cup. By the early 

 botanists it was said to be the termination of the 

 outer bark ; but this is no longer a proper distinc- 

 tion ; because in composite flowers, the parts called 

 pappus are deemed calyces, although they occupy 

 the centre of the disk. The common calyx is some- 

 times entire, in which state in some instances it is 

 thrown off by the growth of the corolla and stamens. 

 More frequently, however, it is divided into segments 

 (sepals), which separate from each other more or less 

 from its outer edge downwards. It is most commonly 

 green, but in some flowers it is highly coloured, as in 

 the marvel of Peru, mezereon, and fuchsia. In many 

 cases it is quickly deciduous, in others it remains till 

 after the fruit or seeds are ripe. In size the calyx 

 varies from a mere ring to a considerable tubular 

 expansion. It is said to be inferior if situate below 

 the ovarium, and superior if attached to its side, or 

 seated on its apex, as exemplified in the apple and 

 pear. In some cases it is double, or formed of many 

 scales, as in the camellia; and in syngenesious flowers, 

 as the artichoke, that part which used to be called a 

 scaly calyx is now called Anthodium. In some flowers, 

 as the tulip, it is said to be wanting ; but this is not 

 admitted by the first authorities. In the flower just 

 named, the three outer petals are to be considered 

 calyx, and the three inner ones corolla. And it is 

 laid down as a rule that, where there is a plurality 

 of floral investments, the outer one must always be 

 considered as the calyx. This organ is usually 

 deemed the external defence of the more delicate 

 members of the flower ; but besides this its most 

 ostensible office, it is destined to perform others, and 

 t,o be transformed into the most valuable products of 

 the plants. In the order Gymnospermia, of the class 

 Didynamia, the calyx becomes the seed-vessel ; and 

 in the genus Pyrus, the incrassated bottom of the 

 calyx becomes the fruit. The following figures 

 represent several of the most common forms of the 

 calyx. 



The Corolla is the delicate and usually high-coloured 

 row of leaves (petals) which stand immediately 

 within the calyx. If the petals are distinct from each 

 other they are said to be polypetalous, if united into a 

 tube the corolla is said to be of one petal (monnpeta- 

 lous). When thus united, the tube is of more or less 

 length and the lip more or less open; if regularly 

 divided, and the .divisions diverge regularly, it is said 

 to be wheel-shaped (rotate) ; if so flatly as to resem- 

 ble a plate, they are called salver-shaped (hypocrati- 

 forni); or funnel-shaped (infundibuliform) ; or bell- 

 shaped (campanulate) ; or lipped (labiate}. If the 

 exterior lips or edges of the corolla be unequally 

 divided, and if the upper division be arched, that is 



bending over, it is called the helmet (galea) ; if tlie 

 lips be very wide apart, the corolla is said to be 

 gaping (ringent) ; if the upper and lower divisions 

 meet and are pressed together, it is said to be like a 

 mask (personate). The central opening of such a 

 corolla is called the throat (faux), and the petals 

 which form it when separately considered are said to 

 consist of two parts, viz., the claw (uiiguis), bv which 

 it is fixed to the receptacle, and the lip or border 

 (limbus) which is expanded in the air. 



According to the order in which a many-pctallod 

 corolla is disposed, botanists have designated them 

 by different appellations, viz., like a rose (rotaceota) ; 

 like a lily (liliaceous) ; like a pink (caryophillaccotu). 

 Some are disposed like a cross, hence called cruciform; 

 others resemble a butterfly (papilionaceous) ; and 

 the different members of these last named flowers 

 receive characteristic names, viz., of five petals, the 

 upper one is called the standard (vexiUvm) ; the two 

 side ones are the wings (a/a;) ; and the two lower 

 ones being united form the keel (carina:), fig. '2-1. 



The corolla of a floret is called corollula; if the 

 corolla be wanting, the flower is said to be apclalous ; 

 and if a part of the corolla be lengthened behind into 

 a hollow tube, it is called a spur (calcar). Example 

 the larkspur. 



From the great variety of forms in which the 

 corolla is exhibited, the terms equal and unequal, 

 regular and , irregular, are properly applied ; and 

 though in the generality of plants it forms but one 

 rank of petals within the calyx, yet in some there are 

 several, as in the flowers of the water-lily. 



The corolla is sometimes furnished with certain 

 appendages attached to the throat, or to the interior 

 base of the petals. These are commonly called nec- 

 tarium, because they hold, and are supposed to secrete 

 honey. They are sometime^ in the shape of a rim or 

 cup encircling the throat, as in the auricula ; like erect 

 scales at the bottom of the claw, as in the ranunculus ; 

 or extended like a trumpet, so conspicuously beautiful, 

 as in some species of narcissus. In the passion-flower 

 it is divided into numerous parti-coloured filiform 

 rays like a rich fringe. When the corolla is prolonged 

 into a spur behind, it is also called the nectary. 



The annexed figures represent the most common 

 forms of flowers. See plate. 



The Stamens. These are situate within the corolla 

 and are the male parts of the flower, consisting of 

 three distinct members, viz. the filament, a, the anther 

 on its summit, and the pollen or dust discharged from 

 the anther c. In some plants the filament is wanting : 

 but the anther and pollen are essential. The fila- 

 ments when present, serve to place the anthers above 

 or on a level with the female organ, or stigma 

 of the flower, and are of different lengths, and assume 

 different positions, according to the position of the 

 flower. If the flower stands erect the filaments are 



as long, or longer than the style, but if the flower 

 nods, or hangs, they are usuaily shorter. The tila- 



