176 REPRODUCTIVE APPENDAGES. CHAP. IV. 



the reasons hold g < d for regarding the part in 

 question as a calyx, which in the former case were 

 wanting. 



The aggregate florets of the compound flowers 

 are closely invested by the common calyx, and the 

 individual florets are, at the same time, destitute of 

 a proper calyx unless their down is such. M. 

 Mirbel's supposed improvement therefore is an in^ 

 novation for which there is no good ground. 



SUBSECTION II. 



Descrip- The Spathe. The spathe (PI. IV. Fig. 8.) is a 

 floral leaf issuing from the upper extremity of the 

 stem or scape, and enveloping one or more flowers 

 by the union or convolution of its edges, which open 

 as the flower expands. The term is restricted by 

 some botanists to such plants only as produce their 

 fructification on a spadix, as the Arum and Palms ; 

 but by others it is used with greater latitude, being 

 applied also to the sheath which invests the unexpand- 

 ed flowers of the Narcissus and similar liliaceous 

 plants, in which application of the term there seem 

 to be no impropriety. Linnaeus indeed regard 

 fend arranged the spathe as a species of calyx ;* bu 

 for reasons analogous to those excluding the in- 

 volucre from the rank of calyx, the spathe is ex 

 eluded from that rank also. 



Modifica- If it contains but one flower, as in Narcissus 



tions. 



* Phil. Bot. sect. 86. 



m- 



lUS 

 rns 



5 



