172 VEGETABLE KINGDOM DIAGRAM 10. 



hazel, and oak have flowers, but they are inconspicuous, and not 

 adorned with bright colours. 



In order to study the different parts of a complete flower, we 

 shall take the rocket for an example. We will notice its pecu- 

 liarities, and then, in studying the different families of plants, will 

 observe what differences they present. If we have not a rocket in 

 flower, we can just as well study the flower of the rape, the turnip, 

 or the wild mustard ; for all these are plants of the same family, 

 and very similar, and we only mentioned the rocket in preference 

 because it is a little larger. But we must add one caution, a 

 garden rocket should not be chosen, because cultivated plants 

 frequently lose their characters. 



Imagine us looking at the flower of a rocket. The first thing 

 we see at the end of the stalk which supports it, are four outer 

 sepals, which surrounds the bud before it opens. These form the 

 calyx, which is sometimes simple, or composed of a single piece 

 surrounding the whole base of the flowers ; and sometimes 

 compound. It is generally coloured something like the leaves. 



Within the calyx is the corolla. This is the brilliant portion 

 of the flower, which is composed of four petals in our rockets ; 

 the wild rose has five. There may be a larger number, or else 

 only one, as in the blue-bell. The corolla is also said to be 

 simple or compound. The parts which form a corolla are called 

 petals. 



If the calyx and corolla are removed, the essential parts of the 

 flower remain, the pistil in the middle, and the stamens around 

 it. 



There are six stamens in the rocket, They are formed of a 

 filament or thread which supports a kind of yellow bag. When 

 the flower has come to maturity, this opens, and discharges a 

 powder which adheres to the fingers. In the lily, for example, it 

 is very abundant. This dust is called the pollen. 



In the midst of the stamens is the pistil. It is simple, swollen 

 at the base ; and this, which is the most important part, is called 

 the ovary. When the ovary is opened, we can already perceive 



