76 NECTARY. ESTIVATION. 



blowing of the flower, and called the banner, or standard, or 

 vexillum, as in the pea, acacia, &c. (Jig. 94). 



Anomalous, when the petals are irregular without having the 

 papiliona'ceous form, as in the violet. 



34. NECTARY. The word " nec- 

 tary," (from nectar, the food of the 

 gods,) is of very general application, 

 and is used to express some peculiar 

 modifications in the sepals or petals, 

 by which they assume an unusual 

 form ; but more especially when 

 there is some alteration of struc- 

 ture, by which they are wholly or 

 partially converted into secreting or- 

 gans, and exude a saccharine, glutin- P 



ous juice. J%- 96. -NECTARY. 



35. ^ESTIVATION. As the condition of the leaf whilst yet in 

 bud, is termed its vernation, so the manner in which the several 

 parts of the flower lie folded in the flower-bud, is termed their 

 cestivation. 



36. Certain flowers (the tulip for example), instead of having 

 a double perianth, have only a single envelope, and we are not 

 certain whether it is a calyx or corolla. In general it seems to 

 bear a closer resemblance in structure to the calyx, but it some- 

 times presents the bright colours of corollas ; it is sometimes 

 analogous to the first of these floral envelopes, and sometimes 

 analogous to the second ; and at other times again it is entirely 

 formed by the union of the two, which have become perfectly 

 alike. Be it as it may, we give the name of perigonium (from 

 the Greek, peri, around, and gein&mai, I grow) to this single 

 envelope (which, in other respects, may be double or simple) ; 

 and flowers that possess this mode of organization are termed 

 monochla'mydous (from the Greek, monos, one, chlamus, cloak, 

 and eidos, resemblance: apparently having but one covering or 

 envelope). 



37. ESSENTIAL PARTS OF FLOWERS. The essential parts of 

 a flower occupy its centre (Jigs. 81, 82, 83), as has been stated 

 above, and, although they are the most important, they are very 



Explanation of Fig. 96. Flower of the larkspur; w, the nectary ; 

 jj, the peduncle. 



34. What is meant by nectary ? 



35. What is meant by vernation ? (Vernation : from the Latin, vernug % 

 belonging to the spring-.) What is aestivation? (^Estivation : from the 

 Latin, cestiva, summer quarters.) 



36. What is the perigonium ? What are monochla'mydous flowers ? 



37. What are the essential parts of flowers ? 



