830 GLOSSARY 



pAi'iLiON'ACEiE. — An order of Plants (see LEGUMiNos.ii:). — 

 The flowers of these plants are called painlionaceousy 

 or butterfly-like, from the fancied resemblance of the 

 expanded superior petals to the wings of a butterfly. 



Parasite. — An animal or plant living upon or in, and at 

 the expense of, another organism. 



Parthenogenesis. — The production of living organisms 

 from unimpregnated eggs or seeds. 



Pedunculated. — Supported upon a stem or stalk. The 

 pedunculated oak has its acorns borne upon a footstool. 



Peloria or Pelorism. — The appearance of regularity of 

 structure in the flowers of plants which normally bear 

 irregular flowers. 



Pelvis. — The bony arch to which the hind limbs of ver- 

 tebrate animals are articulated. 



Petals. — The leaves of the corolla, or second circle of or- 

 gans in a flower. They are usually of delicate texture 

 and brightly colored. 



Phyllodineous. — Having flattened, leaf-like twigs or leaf- 

 stalks instead of true leaves. 



Pigment. — The coloring material produced generally in the 

 superficial parts of animals. The cells secreting it are 

 called pigment-cells. 



Pinnate. — Bearing leaflets on each side of a central stalk. 



Pistils. — The female organs of a flower, which occupy a 

 position in the centre of the other floral organs. The 

 pistil is generally divisible into the ovary or germen, 

 the style and the stigma. 



Placentalia, Pl agent ata, or Placental Mammals. — See 

 Mammalia. 



Plantigrades. — Quadrupeds which walk upon the whole 

 sole of the foot, like the Bears. 



Plastic. — Readily capable of change. 



Pleistocene Period. — The latest portion of the Tertiary 

 epoch. 



Plumule (m plants). — The minute bud between the seed- 

 leaves of newly-germinated plants. 



