THE INFLORESCENCE. 



Ill 



The flowers in this class are arranged on a capitttlum, and are very numerous upon one 

 common receptacle. Each floret is perfect, and therefore has a separate calyx, either rudi- 

 mentary or developed; which, on account of its membranous character, is termed pappm. 

 When its divisions are hroad, it is called paleaceous, or chaffy. The terms pilose (velvety), 

 plumose (feathery), and setee (bristles), express various conditions under which it appears 

 in its connexion with the ovaiy. 



The position of the calyx is described in reference to that of the central organ of 

 reproduction, the ovary, and is called superior or inferior, as it appears to arise above 

 or below that organ. But in truth it is simply a question of appearance, for since the 

 ovary is the central and final point in the development of the plant, all other organs must 

 be arranged around and therefore below it (Fig. 203). The calyx is consequently 

 always inferior ; but whenever it adheres to the ovary, or the parts surrounding the 



con 



err. 



Fig. 203. Fig. 204. 



Fig. 203. Representing the relative positions of the parts of a flower, and showing that the calyx, 



corolla, and stamens must be below the pistil. 

 Fig. 204. Showing a condition of flower in which the calyx, corolla, and stamens are said to be 



superior because they adhere to the side of the pistil or ovary. 



ovary, so that it appears as a separate organ only at a point above that organ, it is, in 

 indefinite language, said to be superior. Pappus is a superior calyx, since it is closely 

 attached to the ovary. The form of the calyx is a material incident in the description of 

 a plant (Fig. 205), and many 

 terms have been invented to 

 express it beyond those which 

 indicate the number of its 

 sepals, and its permanency or 

 otherwise upon the peduncle. 

 Moreover the form and size 

 of each sepal, and the charac- 

 ter of its margin, are always 

 referred to ; and the calyx is 

 said to be regular or irregular, 

 according to the uniformity 

 or otherwise of its divisions. 

 As a rule, the number of 

 sepals has a relation to the 

 number of the divisions of the 

 corolla ; so that if there be five of one there will probably be five of the other. 



Fig. 205. Different forma of calyx, a, tnbnlaT; J, Inflated ; 

 c, flattened ; all being monosepalous, and the two formei 

 having a dentated margin. 



