SECT. I. APPENDAGES OF THE FLOWER. :|77 



poeticus, it is said to be proper; if it contains more 

 than one flower, as in Narcissus biflorus, it is said to 

 be general ; and if it contains an individual flower, 

 which with itself is included in a general spathe, 

 it is then said to be partial. 



It is simple, that is without divisions, as in the 

 Arum ; or divided into two, as in Crinum ; or divided 

 into six, as in Hamanthus ; or imbricated, that is 

 consisting of a number of scales overlapping each 

 other, as in the Plantain-tree. It is one-valved and 

 opening longitudinally on the one side, as in the 

 Arum, in which it assumes, in its state of greatest 

 expansion, a sort of conical figure somewhat cucul- 

 latc ; or it is two-valved, as in Stratiotes, in which 

 each valve assumes a sort of concave and boot- 

 shaped figure somewhat compressed. It is leaf-like, 

 as in Arum maculatum ; or petaloid, as in Arum 

 JEgyptiacum ; or membranaceous, as in Galanthus; 

 or woody, as in the Date-tree. It is deciduous, as 

 in Allium vineale ; withering, that is fading with 

 the flower, as in Arum ; or permanent, that is rer 

 maining unchanged till the fruit ripens, as in 

 Stratiotes. 



SUBSECTION III. 



The Bracte. The bracte is a floral leaf situated Descrip- 

 on the peduncle or common axis of the fructifica- Uon * 

 tion, and often so near to the flower as to be mis- 

 taken at first sight for its calyx. This is particu- 

 larly the case in the genus Nigella and some species 



VOL. i. N 



