LESSON 12.] ITS TARTS OK OKCANS. 86 



22 '). The OrSlins of lIlP Flower arc tlicrcforfi of two kinds ; naiiK-ly, 

 first, tlie protect iiKj urytius, or lemws of the Jiower, — also c-alU-d tlie 

 Hiirtil envelopes, — and, second, tlie essential urynns. The latter are 

 situated within or a little above the former, and are enclosed by them 

 in the bud. 



22G. The Floral Envelopes in a complete flower are double ; that is, 

 they consist of two whorls (IHI), or circles of leaves, one a))ove or 

 within the other. The outer set fbnns the Calyx; this more com- 

 monly consists of {ireen or greenish leaves, but not always. The 

 inner set, usually of a delicate texture, and of some other color than 

 green, and in most cases forming the most showy part of the blos- 

 som, is the Corolla. 



227. The floral envelopes, taken together, are sometimes called the 

 Perianth. This name is not much used, however, except in c?.^- 

 where they form oidy one set, at least in appearance, as in the Lily, 

 or where, for some other reason, the limits between the calyx and 

 the corolla are not ejisily made out. 



228. Each leaf or separate j)iece of the corolla is called a Petal; 

 each leaf of the calyx is called a Sepal. The sepals and the petals 

 — or, in other words, the leaves of the blossom — serve to protect, 

 support, or nourish the parts within. They do not themselves make 

 a perfect flower. 



229. Some plants, however, naturally produce, besides their per- 

 fect flowers, others which consist only of calyx and corolla (one or 

 both), that is, of leaves. These, destitute as they are of the essential 

 oi'gans, and incapable of producing seed, are called neutral flowers. 

 AVe have an example in the flowers round the margin of the cyme of 

 the Hydrangea (Fig. 107), and of the Cranberry -Tree, or Snowball, 

 in their wild state. By long cultivation in gardens the whole clustei 

 luis been changed into showy, but useless, neutral flowers, in these 

 and some other cjlscs. AVhat are called double flowers, such as full 

 Roses (Kig. 173), Buttercups, and Camellias, are blossoms which, 

 under the gardener's care, have developed with all their essential 

 organs changed into petals. But such flowers are always in an 

 nimatural or monstrous condition, and are incapaljle of maturing 

 seed, for want of 



2.]0. The Esspilliiil Orsillis. These are likewise of two kinds, placed 

 one above or wiihiii the otliir; namdv, flrst, the Stoutens or fertil- 

 izing organs, and, second, the Pistils, which are to be fertilized and 

 bear the seeds. 



