6 BISECTIONS FOR THE LEARNER. 



row inside the calyx (clawed), the part outside (blade) short and rounded, 

 broadest near the end (obovate); two little teeth standing up on each 

 petal just where it bends outward from the calyx (blade 2-appendaged 

 at the base); the petals twisted so as to make one edge higher than the 

 other; stamens 10; pistil one, with three short straight styles and a short 

 stem below the ovary (stipe) on which the petals and stamens grow; the 

 seed pod (capsule) ovoid and rough, containing seeds which grow fast to 

 a central part (placenta). 



Turning to the Analytical Key, we determine that it belongs under 

 Division 1, because the petals are separate. Since our plant cannot be- 

 long under A, the stamens being only 10, we turn to " B. Stamens 10 or 

 less/' etc. ; under this head we read: " 1. Ovary or ovaries superior," etc. , 

 which is the case with our plant; then follows: "* Pistils more than one 

 and distinct;" but there, is only one pistil in our flower, so we pass on to 

 c< * * Pistil only one t " below which is " 4 Simple, i. e., of one carpel, as 

 shown by single style," etc., but there are three styles in the pistil of our 

 flower, so we try " -\ h- Pistil compound," etc., which suits our case; then 

 we read the next line, but upon looking up the word "placenta," con- 

 clude that our plant cannot be found under that head; the next line of 

 the same length does not suit because our pod is not " 2-celled;" but the 

 third reads: "Ovary and capsule 1-celled, seeds on a central placenta/' 

 which applies to our seed pod; in the next line " Sepals 2; fleshy herbs " 

 is wrong, so we try " Sepals 5 or 4; leaves opposite," etc., which leads 

 us to ORDER CARYOPHYLLACE.E, p. 27. The description of the order is 

 satisfactory. Evidently our plant belongs to the first genus named in 

 the Synopsis of Genera, viz. : Silene; and the first species under that 

 genus is our plant, the proper name of which is Silene Galica. We find, 

 too, as we always shall, that some things were omitted in our description; 

 also, that all the characteristics of the plant are not given in this book. 

 Having determined the name, you should next write out a description, as 

 nearly complete as possible, and make drawings showing the outlines of 

 the leaves and the separate parts of the flower. 



