PLANT-LIFEGENERA TION. 



255 



This fact, ideally true, does not, however, 

 show itself in the form of the cotyledon. 



Now the point upon which the chief stress is 

 to be laid, is that each Composite flower is no 

 longer a single flower but an associated group 

 of flowers. Such is the unique fact now risen 

 to view: the floral individuals in their turn 

 have advanced to association in one body, 

 which, 'however, preserves the individuality 

 of each flower that in this relation is called 

 a floret. The whole is surrounded and unified 

 by its own corolla and calyx, which have like- 

 wise their own individual character, and 

 which form the peripheral ray-flower. Thus 

 we behold an actual union of associated indi- 

 viduals in the vegetal kingdom, whose last 

 and highest act is just this. We may call it 

 a true federation of flowers with its unitary 

 bond (involucre) enclosing, protecting, and 

 conjoining the federated individuals, each of 

 which may be a complete flower, having its 

 own form and law, we might say its own 

 sphere of sovereignty. Such is in general the 

 Composite flower (a more appropriate title 

 would be associated, or even federated) withits 

 significant union of many into one (e pluribiis 

 unum). Our most striking flowers are con- 

 tinually bringing this fact before our eyes 

 in the blooming season: the golden-rod, the 



