130 



PARTS OF THE FLOWER 



several separate carpels or simple pistils, as the 

 buttercup; or a compound pistil, as the St. John's- 

 wort (Fig. 208). 



272. The pistil, whether simple or compound, 

 has three parts: the lowest or seed-bearing part, 

 which is the ovary; the stigma at the upper 

 extremity, which is a flattened or expanded 

 surface and usually roughened or sticky ; the 

 stalk-like part or style, connecting the ovary 

 and stigma. Sometimes the style is appar- 

 ently wanting, 

 )ia? and the stigma 

 is said to be 

 sessile o n the 

 ovary. These 

 parts are shown 

 in the fuchsia, 

 Fig. 205. The 

 ovary or seed vessel is at a. A long style, bearing a large 

 stigma, projects from the flower. See, 

 also, Figs. 207 and 209. 



273. Conformation of the Flower. — 

 A flower that has calyx, corolla, stamens 

 and pistils is said to be complete; all 

 others are incomplete. In some flowers 

 both the floral envelopes are wanting: 

 such are naked. When one of the floral 

 envelope series is wanting, the remaining 

 series is said to be calyx, and the flower 

 is therefore apetalous (without petals). 

 The knotweed (Fig. 210), smartweed, 

 buckwheat, elm (Fig. 96), are examples. 



274. Some flowers lack the pistils but „ 



r 211. Flower of garden 



have stamens: these are staminate, nasturtium. Separate 



1,1,1 , . . petal at a. The calyx is 



whether the envelopes are missing or prolonged into a spur. 



210. Knotweed, a very common but inconspicuous plant 

 along hard walks and roads. Two flowers, enlarged, are 

 shown at the right. These flowers are very small and 

 borne in the axils of the leaves. 



