208 ABOUT THE PERIANTH. 



to eyes dazzled by their glowing colours the true flower, 

 in fact, the entire flower. Science, which is the slow 

 elaboration of thought matured by the study of objects of 

 no human origin, has completely swept aside this premature 

 judgment. 



THE PERIANTH. 



We have already, and more than once, employed the word 

 perianth* to designate the calyx or corolla, whether taken 

 separately or together. In the former case, the perianth is 

 simple. ; in the latter, it is double. A more appropriate word 

 could not be made use of. It is derived from the Greek vreol, 

 around, and &v6ot, flower ; and literally signifies, " floral enve- 

 lope." Simple or double, this envelope is the metamorphosis 

 of several leaves, never of a solitary one, inserted upon planes 

 so closely brought together that they seem confounded. 

 Observe, in fact, how the leaves tend to efface their 

 intervals on the blossom-bearing spray; they draw towards 

 each other, they are apparently in eager haste to accom- 

 plish their destined transformation. What eloquence there 

 is in this simple language of nature ! 



The Calyx. The outermost whorl, or verticle, of the flower 



* The term perianth is usually confined to the flowers of Endogens, 

 whatever colours they present, whether green, as in asparagus, or coloured, 

 as in tulip. Some use the term as a general one, and restrict the use of 

 perigone to cases where a pistil is present, not applying it to unisexual 

 flowers, in which stamens only are produced." Professor JBalfour, " Manual 

 of Botany " p. 169. 



