82 THE PINK. 



Fertilization. — The nectar, situated in the deep narrow 

 calyx, can be tasted only by the long tongue of Moths and 

 Butterflies. The stamens usually appear first, issuing from 

 the throat of the blossom, and after shoAvering their pollen 

 on the heads of the visiting Moths, wither away ; immedi- 

 ately, the 2 long recurved styles emerge, ready to receive the 

 pollen brought from the other flowers.* 



Teratology. — Carnations are Pinks made double by arti- 

 ficial culture. A careful analysis reveals the curious change 

 which has taken place. The petals are multiplied to about 

 20. The stamens have divided themselves each into several, 

 all more or less deformed, but evidently likewise tending 

 toward the shape of a petal. The ovary may have become 

 triple, with a third style, and the calyx may have burst 

 open. This unruly behavior is called teratology (teras, a 

 monster). See Lesson XXVIII. 



The Name is Didnthus Caryophyllus. Dianthus {Dios, 

 antlios) means the Flower of Jove, or God's own flower ; and 

 Caryophyllus, the Clove Tree, is applied to this species on 

 account of its peculiar fragrance. The genus Dianthus is 

 known by a tuhidar, hracted calyx, and two styles. 



Classification. — The two genera — Dianthus and Stella- 

 ria, represent the Order of the Pinkworts, or Caryophtl- 

 LACE^. The student will remember that they coincide in 

 the following characters : 



Herbs with swollen joints and opposite, entire leaves. 



Flowers regular, symmetrical, 4 or 5-parted. 



Petals distinct, or wanting. 



Stamens twice as many as the sepals, or fewer. 



Ovary compound, free from the calyx. 



Embryo curved or coiled on mealy albumen. 



* Plants with this hahit of proinotins: cross-fertilization will be found quite numer- 

 ous, and are called proferandrovs ffrom the Gr. proterof<, earlier, andres, stamens). 

 On the other hand, other plants mature their pistils earlier than their stamens. The 

 Plantain, for example, pushes out its Vmg hairy style a day or so before its own se- 

 mens are ready, in order to receive pollen from other flower?. 



