SECT. I. THE FLOWER. 85 



stem, and even leaf; being the apparatus destined by 

 nature for the production of the fruit, and being 

 also distinguishable for the most part by the bril- 

 liancy of its colouring or the sweetness of its smell. It 

 has been happily styled by Pliny * the joy of plants, 

 " Flos gaudium arbor urn ;" of which the Lily, the 

 Tulip, and the Rose, are magnificent examples. 



In its mode of attachment the flower is either Mode of 

 sessile, as in Agrimony; or supported upon fluent." 

 jtower-stalk, generally denominated the peduncle, 

 as in Linruza borealis. In their direction flowers 

 are upright, as in Silene quinque vulnera ; or bend- Direction, 



J,. , , ,. n "distribu- 



ing, as in Jbidens cernua ; or nodding, as in Car- tion, and 

 duus nut am ; or unilateral, that is attached to one msertlon - 

 side only of the stem, as in the Lily of the Valley ; 

 or distichous, that is distributed in two opposite 

 rows, as in many of the Grasses ; or homosestro- 

 phous, that is attached to two opposite sides, but 

 turning themselves about ultimately to the one side, 

 as in Festuca rubra. In their insertion they are radi- 

 cal, that is issuing from the root, as in the Prim- 

 rose ; caulinary, that is issuing from the stem, as in 

 Verbascum ; rameal, that is issuing from the 

 branch, as in the Cherry ; or foliary, that is issuing 

 from the leaf, as in fiuscus* If they originate in 

 the extremity of the branch or stem, they are said 

 to be terminal, as in the Thistle ; if in the upper 

 angle formed by the leaf or branch, they are said to 

 be axillary, as in Fringed Buckbean. 



* Hist, Mund. Lib, xvi. chap. xxv. 



