15 



along the branches: each is placed in the axil of a leaf. 

 The axil of a leaf is the upper angle between a leaf and 

 stem or branch. This single arrangement is one of the 

 marks by which the genus Epacris may be known, but is 

 not peculiar to the whole family. The stalk of the flower 

 is short, and is clothed with much reduced leaves. Leaves 

 on the flower stalk when changed to assist the flower are 

 called bracts. The calyx consists of five bractlike sepals, 

 which are free from one another and clothe the base of the 

 flower. The corolla is composed of five petals, which are 

 united for the greater part of their length into a tube, 

 the five ends are free and spreading. The tube varies 

 greatly in length in different individuals. The corolla is 

 delicate, and of all shades, from white to dark-crimson. It 

 appears to attract insects, and consequently forms good 

 seed, irrespective of the tint. Therefore the" colour of the 

 flower and length of the tube, like many other details in 

 plants, may be considered as accidental circumstances and 

 not accurate adaptations. The corolla arises from the 

 thalamus close above the calyx. 



The stamens are five in number, and instead of arising 

 as in Ranunculus, they come off from the corolla near the 

 top of its tube. This is not universal in the family. In 

 some genera they arise from the thalamus. The anthers 

 are small, and the single pollen chamber opens along its 

 entire length. The pistil of Heath is very different to what 

 we have seen in Buttercup. Instead of a collection of 

 little free carpels, it appears in a single body in the centre 

 of the flower. It has a spherical part below, and a long, 

 slender, simple style, ending in a little round stigma shaped 

 like the head of a pin. The spherical base of the pistil has 

 not a smooth surface; the top where the style conies off 

 is much sunk, so that it appears to arise from the bottom 

 of a pit, and the surface is marked by five shallow erect 

 depressions. If you cut through the body at its broadest 

 part it will be observed that it is made up of five small 

 cavities, and the depressions mark their boundaries. Each 

 cavity is an ovary, and at its inner angle arise many 

 minute ovules. The pistil of a Heath is therefore made 

 up of five blended carpels, which is apparent is the ovarian 

 portion, but quite obscured in style and stigma. 



When the flower withers the fruit is formed. This is 

 not much changed in character. The compound ovary 

 becomes rather larger, and dries. It then bursts along the 

 back of each carpel, to allow the minute seeds to escape. 

 Such a fruit is called a capsule. 



