PLAN OF THE FLOWER. 



65 



mint, while five-parted, tlie flowers have generally but four 

 stamens; but on close observation we often find a small 

 rudiment of the fifth stamen in its proper place, as if its 

 (jrov)th had been early stopped. And in Monarda and Catal- 

 pa, only t^vo stamens grow up to maturity, while three are 

 inere rudiinents (Fig. 202). Nevertheless, such flowers are 

 said to be unsymmetrical. So the flowers of the Mustard 

 tribe. The stamens are in two rows of four in each ; but ot 

 the outer row (or circle) two were checked in growth (or 

 suppressed^ as the botanists say) at the outset. (See Fig. 97.) 

 The tendency to symmetry is manifest in all these cases. 

 117. We must carefull}^ distinguish between the terms 



unsyimnetrical and irregidar. 



The former refers to number 

 only, the latter to form and size 

 (Less. XIY.). The Mustard 

 flower is unsymmetrical, but 

 not irregular. The Orchis is 

 irregular, but not nnsymmet- 

 rical. Snap-dragon is both 

 irregular and unsymmetrical. 



\, 



k h g f e do 

 Fig. 198. Nymphsea odorata. 

 Fig. 199. Petals gradually passing into stamens. 



118. Here is a figure of the Water Lily (198), and a 

 separate view of its sepals, petals, and stamens. Observe 



117. What diflference between unsymmetrical and irregular ? Examples 



