GARDEN PEA. 



31 



You are now prepared to fill up the schedule descrip- 

 tive of this flower. 



GABDEN PEA. 



42. The beginner will be very likely to think, from its 

 appearance, that the largest of the petals is made up of 

 two coherent ones, but the following considerations show 

 clearly that this is not the case. In the Buttercup, and 

 other flowers in whz'jh the number of sepals and petals is 

 the same, the petals do not stand before the sepals, but 

 before the spaces between them. In the Pea-blossom this 

 rule holds good if the large petal is considered as one, 

 but not otherwise. Again, the veining of this petal is 

 similar to that of a common leaf, there being a central rib 

 from which the veins spring on each side ; and lastly, 

 there are some flowers of the Pea kind Cassia, for 

 example in which this particular petal is of nearly the 

 same size and shape as the other four. 



5. The Pea is a type of a highly important group of 

 plants the Order Leguminosce. To it belong many plants 



