i;6 BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS CHAP. 



SUMMARY. 



Floral leaves are modified leaves which build up the flowers. 

 They form a number of whorls, as follows 



(1) The sepals, which form the calyx. 



(2) The petals, which form the corolla. 



1(3) The andrcecium, or male organs of reproduction, is built up of 

 stamens. 



(4) The gynoecium (pistil), or female organ of reproduction, is built 

 up of carpels. 



Stamens consist of a stalk \h& filament, and a head the anther. 



Pistils are built up of one or more carpels ; they consist of ovary, 

 style, and stigma. 



The Flower is supposed to be a modified shoot or branch, for the 

 following reasons 



1 i ) The flowers are produced in the same positions as the buds, viz. , 

 at the apex of the main shoot and in the axils of leaves. 



(2) The floral leaves are arranged either in a lateral or spiral manner. 



(3) The floral leaves may be leaf-like. 



(4) The intermediate forms between foliage leaves and the various 

 kinds of floral leaves are known. 



(5) The floral leaves change under cultivation. 



An inflorescence is a collection of flowers produced from a common 

 stalk. The common stalk upon which the flowers are borne is called 

 a peduncle, and the smaller stalks by which the flowers are attached to 

 it are termed pedicels. There are tw r o kinds of inflorescences, (a) in- 

 definite, (b) definite. 



Indefinite inflorescences. The -flowers open at the base first and 

 at the top last. 



Definite inflorescence. The top flower opens first. 



Indefinite inflorescences are Spike, Raceme, Panicle, Corymb, Simple 

 Umbel, Compound Umbel, Capitulum, Spadix, Catkin. 



Definite inflorescence are Solitary, Dichotomous Cyme, Verjicillaster, 

 Glomerule. 



Bracts are greatly modified leaves in the axil of which the flowers 

 are produced. When the bract is large and surrounds the inflorescence 

 it is called a spathe. An involucre is a collection of bracts which 

 generally enclose the flowers of the inflorescence. 



QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER XIII. 



(1) Distinguish between a "flower" and an "inflorescence." Illus- 

 trate your answer by reference to the Daisy. (1897). 



(2) Explain, with examples, the following terms bracts, stipules, 

 petiole, peduncle. (1896.) 



(3) What is a flower ? What structures compose it ? 



(4) Explain the differences between definite and indefinite inflores- 

 cences, giving examples of each. 



