XIX 



THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS 



247 



Calyx. Polysepalous 5, inferior, hairy, green. 



Corolla. Polypetalous 5, hypogynous, each petal with a 

 nectary at base. 



Andrcerium. Free, indefinite, hypogynous ; filament long ; 

 anther two-lobed and basifixed. 



FIG. 238. Buttercup (Ranunculus). A, branch with flowers : B, longitudinal sec- 

 tion of flower ; C, flower from above ; D, flower from below ; E, petal ; F, 

 stamen ; Ca, carpel. (One-third nat. size.) 



Gynacium. Apocarpous ; carpels numerous, spirally arranged 

 on a conical receptacle ; superior. 



Fruits. Achenes with a single seed in each ; seeds possess 

 endosperm. 



Pollination. The outer stamens ripen first, then the inner 

 ones. The carpels ripen between the two sets of stamens. In 

 this way either self-pollination or cross-pollination can take 

 place. The flowers are visited by crowds of insects for honey 

 and pollen, and these, creeping over the flowers, may either 

 bring pollen from another flower, and so cross-pollinate ; or 



