FLORAL ORGANS. 



embrace the flower, like the perianth, but is distant, sur- 

 rounding the stem and consisting of small leaves, as in 

 parsnip, dill, etc. It is universal when surrounding several 

 umbels, and partial when surrounding the peduncles of the 

 flowers; 3d, ament or catkin, which is a calyx of many 

 scales, along a thread receptacle, each scale protecting one 

 or more stamens, or pistils, as with the oak, chestnut, pop- 

 lar, etc. ; 4th, spatha or sheath, encloses a flower at first 

 and then bursting the flower stalk that grows above it, as the 

 wild turnip, onion, narcissus, etc., displaying a spadix 

 on which, in some flowers, the stamens and pistils 

 grow, or which bear fruit, as in the palms. 



5th, glume, or husk, is the calyx of the grasses and 

 grains, composed of one or two pieces, or valves. The 

 beard or awn belongs to the glume. Of the awn of 

 wild oats is made an hydrometer to indicate moisture 

 and dryness. The middle part of the awn is twisted 

 like a screw and one end cemented to a circular plate 

 marked into degrees, while a bristle is attached to the other end 

 to serve as an index; and the whole is covered with a glass. 

 The awn untwists and moves in one direction in damp and rainy 

 a weather, but moves in a contrary direction when the at- 

 mosphere is dry. The corolla is a part of the calyx in 

 grasses. 



6th, calyptra, or veil, which is the cap or hood of parts 

 of the mosses, as at a. 



7th, volva, the wrapper of the head of fungous plants. 

 All these are different kinds and forms of calyxes, and 

 these are various in form and situation. 



The corolla, corona or crown, is the continuation of 

 the inner bark of the flower-stalk. It exhales carbonic 

 acid, but not oxygen. It is the seat of all the beauty and 

 variegated colors in flowers. Before blossoming it is 

 folded in the calyx, after which it is the flower-bud. A flower is said 

 to be petalous when with the petals or leaves of the corolla, and apet- 

 alous when without them. These are definite when not more than 20, 

 and indefinite when more than 20. When composed of 1 petal the 

 corolla is monopetalous, and when of more than 1, polypetalous. The 

 1st consists of the tube, the lower part; the 

 throat, the entrance to the tube, and the 

 limb, the top border of the corolla. In the 

 2d the petals consist of the lamina, the thin 

 marginal part, some times entire, as with the 

 rose, or notched or crenate, as with the pink. The claw is the lower 



