126 OBJECT LESSONS IN BOTANY 



John {reads). "Plants bearing flowers (Plitenogamia). 



" Plants not bearing flowers (Cryptogaraia)." 



Teacher. To w^hich of these sub-kingdoms does your specimen belong? 



John. To the flowering plants, for it has both flowers and fruit. 



Teacher. Now tell us to which couplet we shall next pass. 



Joh^n. To the second. 



Teacher. Very well. Edward, you may read and determine the second 

 couplet in the same manner. 



Edward. " Leaves net-veined. Flowers never completely three-parted. 



"Leaves parallel-veined (rarely net- veined). Flowers three-parted." 

 This specimen seems to answer to the first line, having net-veined leaves 

 and five-parted flowers. It is, then, an Exogen. Pass to No. 3. 



Teacher. Now let it pass along, and if a wrong decision is made, let the 

 observer signify it by raising his hand. 



Sarah. " Stigmas present. Seeds inclosed in seed-vessels. 



" Stigmas none. Seeds naked." These flowers have pistils and stig- 

 mas. I think it is an Angiosperm. Pass to No. 5. 



Eliza. " Corolla with distinct petals. 



" Corolla with united petals. 



" Corolla none ; sepals sometimes none." My specimen has five distinct 

 petals, and five sepals. It is therefore Folypetalous. Pass over to A. 



Jane. "Herbs. 



"Shrubs, trees, or undershrubs." This plant is an herb. Pass on to 

 No. 2. 



Mary. "Leaves alternate or all radical. 



"Leaves opposite, on the stem." The leaves of the stem are alternate, 

 but many are radical. Pass to No. 15. 



Louisa. "Flowers regular or nearly so. Fruit never a legume. 



"Flowers irregular," &c. I do not remember the legume. (Several 

 hands are raised.) 



Teacher. Edward will define a legume. 



Edward. A legume, sir, is a fruit like a pea-pod. 



Teacher. Can Mary improve this definition ? 



Mary. The legume is a simple, or one-carpeled fruit, with two valves 

 and one cell. 



Louisa. But this plant has regular flowers, in any case. See No. 17. 



Nancy. " Stamens numerous." &c. I count more than twenty stamens 

 liere. Turn to No. 21. 



