LESSON 15.] 



CONSOLIDATION OF PARTS. 



103 



•polysepahus, tliat is, composed of several or many sepals. And a 

 corolla with distinct petals is said to be poltfpetalous. 



2G8. Consolidation, the growing together of the parts of two or more 

 different sets. In the most natural or pattern flower (as explained 

 in Lessons 13 and 14), the 

 several parts rise from the 

 receptacle or axis in succes- 

 sion, like leaves upon a very 

 short stem ; the petals just 

 above or within the sepals, 

 the stamens just above or 

 within these, and then the 

 pistils next the summit or '^'^ 



centre. 'Now when contiguous parts of different sorts, one witiiin 

 the other, unite at their base or origin, it obscures more or less the 

 plan- of the flower, by consolidating organs which in the pattern 



313 



flower are entirely se|)arate. 



2G9. The nature of this con- 

 soUdation will be at once un- 

 derstood on comparing the fol- 

 lowing series of illustrations. 

 Fig. 212 rei)resents a flower of 

 the common Flax, cut through 

 lengthwise, so as to show the 

 attachment (or what the bot- 

 anist calls the insertion) of all 

 tJie parts. Here they are all 

 inserted on, that is grow out 

 of, the receptacle or axis of 

 the blossom. In other words, 

 there is no union at all of the 

 parts of contiguous circles. So 

 the parts are said to be free. 

 And the sepals, petals, and stamens, all springing of course from 

 beneath the pistils, which are on the very summit of the axis, are 

 said to be hgpugynotis (a term composed of two (Jr«ek words, mean- 

 ing '-under the pistil"). 



FIG. 21Q. A Flax-fliiwor, rut tliroiieh loripIliwiKP. 



FIG. 213. Flower of a Cherry, divided in the name way. 



KIO. au. Flower of the coinniun Puralane, divided lotiBthwiM. 



