94 



FLOWERS. 



[section 8. 



to the base, and outspread. The nature of sucli a corolla (and of tlic sta- 

 mens also, to l)c cxi)lauicd in the next section) is illustrated by the flowei 

 of a Lobelia, Fig. 2S5. • 



268. In Asters, Daisies, Sunflower, Coreopsis (Fig. 2G8), and the like, 

 only the marginal (or Raj/) corollas are ligulate ; the rest (those of the 



Disk) are regularly gamopetalous, 

 tubular, and tive-lobed at summit; 

 /^y but they are small and individually 

 /n inconspicuous, only the rajf-Jlowers 

 making a show. In fact, those of 

 Coreopsis and of Sunflower are 

 simply for show, these ray-flowers 

 being not only sterile, but neutral, 

 that is, having neither stamens 

 nor pistil. But in Asters, Daisies, 

 Golden-rods, and the like, these ray-flowers are pistillate and fertile, serving 



6 



therefore for seed-bearing as well as for show. Let it not be supposed that 

 the show is useless. See Section XIIL 



269. Adnation, or Consolidation, is the union of the members of parts 

 belonging to ditierent circles of the flower (256). It is of course under- 

 stood that in this (as likewise in coalescence) the parts are not formed aud 

 then conjoined, but are produced in union. They are l)orn united, as the 

 term adnate implies. To illustrate this kind of union, take the accompany- 

 ing series of flowers (Fig. 270-274), shown in vertical section. In the 

 first. Fig. 270, Flax-flower, there is no adnation; sepals, petals, and sta- 

 mens, Sivefree as well as distinct, being separately borne on the receptacle, 

 one circle within or above the next ; only the five pistils liave their ovaries 

 coalescent. In Fig. 271, a Cherry-flower, the ])etals and stamens are borne 

 on the throat of the calyx-tube ; that is, the sepals are coalescent into a cup. 

 and the petals and stamens are adnate to the inner face of this; in other 



Fig. 268. Head of flowers of a Coreniisis, divided lengthwise. 



Fig. 269. A slice of the preceding more enlarged, with one tuhular perfect flower 

 (") left standing on the receptacle, with its hractlet or chaff (h), one lignlate and 

 nentral ray flower (ct), and part of another; dd, section of bracts or leaves of the 

 involucre. 



