16 ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURAL BOTANY. 



leaflets, then, are on the peduncle, below the receptacle, 

 they cannot be sepals. They are simply small foliage 

 leaves, to which, as they are found beside the flower, the 

 name bracts is given. Our flower, then, is 

 apparently without a calyx, and in this re- 

 spect is different from the Buttercup. The 

 whole four parts of the flower not being 

 Fig. 20. present, it is said to be incomplete. 



20. It may be explained here that there is an under- 

 standing among botanists, that if the calyx and corolla are 

 not both present it is always the corolla which is wanting, 

 and so it happens that the coloured part of the flower 

 under consideration, though resembling a corolla, must be 

 regarded as a ialyx, arid the flower itself, therefore, as 

 apetalous. 



21. Remove now these coloured sepals, and what is left 

 of the flower very much resembles what was left of our 

 Buttercup, after the removal of the calyx and corolla. The 

 stamens are very numerous, and are inserted on the 

 receptacle. The carpels are also numer- 

 ous (Fig. 21), are inserted on the recep- 

 tacle, and are free from each other 

 (apocarpous). And if you examine one 



of the carpels (Fig. 22) you will find Fig. 21. Fig. 22. 

 that it contains a single ovule. The flower, in short, so 

 much resembles that of the Buttercup that you will be 

 prepared to learn that the two belong to the same Order 

 or Family of plants, and you will do well to observe and 

 remember such resemblances as have just been brought to 

 your notice, when you set out to examine plants lor your 



Fig. 20. Flower of Hepatica, with bracts odow. 

 Fig. 21. Carpels of Hepatica. Fig. 22. Single carpel, enlarged. 



