510 



BOTANY OF THE LIVING PLANT 



The pollination is not highly speciaHsed ; the symmetry is radial ; the 

 attractions are colour, and honey on the carpels ; there is slight protandry, 



and the stamens mature in succession, 

 so that the supply of pollen is prolonged. 

 There is a probability of intercrossing, 

 but self-pollination is possible. 



The fruit is a group of follicles, which 

 open by their ventral sutures, and gap- 

 ing widely upwards allow their seeds to 

 escape (Fig. 415, A). 



(16) The Buttercup {Ranunculus 

 acris, L., or other species) is more 

 specialised, having both cal^x and 

 corolla ; but the flower is constructed on 

 a similar plan ; as follows : (Fig. 416.) 

 Calyx, sepals 5, polysepalous inferior, 

 imbricate in bud, the outermost being 

 obliquely anterior. 



Corolla, petals 5, polypetalous, alternating with the sepals, inferior yellow, 

 with a honey-pouch on the upper face of each, near the base (Fig. 416, 2). 



Androecium, stamens indefinite, free, hypogynous ; the outermost maturing 

 earliest. 



Fig. 415. 



A, Follicles of Aconite. (After Figuier.). 



B, Achene or nut of Buttercup. (After Figuier.) 



Fig. 416. 



Buttercup (i?ammcMZ«s acm, L.). i, Flower in median section. 2, a single petal. 



3, the gynoecium. 4, the same in section. 5, floral diagram. 



Gynoecium, carpels indefinite, apocarpous, superior : each contains only a 

 single anatropous ovule ; otherwise similar in form to the fewer and larger 

 carpels of Caltha. 



