CHAPTER LII. 

 FLOWERING PLANTS. 



ORGANS OF INCREASE AND REPRODUCTION THE FLOWER THE 

 CALYX THE COROLLA THE STAMEN THE PISTIL. 



SOME of the simplest plants are propagated by spores , which are 

 detached, and fall upon the ground to vegetate ; but in the case of the 

 higher orders the reproduction of species is a much more elaborate process, 

 and is carried on by means of certain organs called flowers. Small buds, or 

 ovules, are formed, which develop into seed. Plants also produce buds, 

 which grow upon various parts of it, and are capable of reproducing their 

 species. We will first speak of FLOWERS. 



Flowers are not only the lovely blossoms we cut and place in our 

 rooms, but the reproductive organs of plants which may be very plain and 

 simple or gorgeous and fragrant, and in all probability the so-called flowers 

 are few in comparison to the unrecognized flowers. Trees and bushes 

 flower equally with the rose and the pink and carnation. Vegetables 

 flower as well as the lily, though we do not recognize it so well. Let us 

 now examine the " flower." 



Flowers may consist of four parts, but it is not absolutely necessary 

 that they should contain more than two. The four portions of a Complete 

 ilower are 



i. THE CALYX. 2. THE COROLLA. 



3. THE STAMEN. 4. THE PISTIL. 



The two last mentioned are essential. The four organs are placed around 

 a pedicel or peduncle (flower stalk), and are known as floral whorls. 



The CALYX is the outermost whorl of all when all exist The portions 

 of the calyx are known as sepals. 



The COROLLA is usually the showy portion the attraction of the 

 flower. The pieces of the corolla are called petals. The sweet fluids of 

 the plant are here concealed. 



These parts the calyx and corolla are known as the floral envelopes, 

 <or " perianth." The tulip has one whorl only, and it is called the envelope. 



