The Angiosperms 167 



of the flower by a bilateral symmetry, as in Gladi- 

 olus (Fig. 17, C). In the Canna only one stamen 

 is perfect, and the others -are modified into petal- 



FIG. 17 



Types of Monocotyledonous Flowers. 

 A Pistillate flower of Bur reed (Sparganium). 

 B Staminate flower of Arrow-head (Sagittaria). 

 C Flower of Gladiolus. The flower is " Zygomorphic," the 

 stamens reduced to three, and there is an " interior " ovary, o. 



like organs, while the flower is strongly zygomor- 

 phic, i.e., is bilaterally symmetrical. 



It is among the orchids, however, that we 

 find the most highly specialized type of flowers 

 among the monocotyledons. This great family, 

 the largest one among the monocotyledons, has 

 the stamens generally reduced to a single one, 



