LESSON 15.] 



CONSOLIDATION OF PARTS. 



103 



polysepalous, that is, composed of several or many sepals. And a 

 corolla with distinct petals is said to be polypetalous. 



268. Consolidation, the growing together of the parts of two or more 

 different sets. In the most natural or pattern flower (as explained 

 in Lessons 13 and 14), the 



several parts rise from the 

 receptacle or axis in succes- 

 sion, like leaves upon a very 

 short stem ; the petals just 

 above or within the sepals, 

 the stamens just above, or 

 within these, and then the 

 pistils next the summit or 

 centre. Now when contiguous parts of different sorts, one within 

 the other, unite at their base or origin, it obscures more or less the 

 plan of the flower, by consolidating organs which in the pattern 

 flower are entirely separate. 



269. The nature of this con- 

 solidation will be at once un- 

 derstood on comparing the fol- 

 lowing series of illustrations. 

 Fig. 212 represents a flower of 

 the common Flax, cut through 

 lengthwise, so as to show the 

 attachment (or what the bot- 

 anist calls the insertion) of all 

 the parts. Here they are all 

 inserted on, that is grow out 

 of, the receptacle or axis of 

 the blossom. In other word;*, 

 there is no union at all of the 

 parts of contiguous circles. So 

 the parts are said to be free. 



And the sepals, petals, and stamens, all springing of course from 

 beneath the pistils, which are on the very summit of the axis, are 

 said to be hypogynous (a term composed of two Greek words, mean- 

 ing " under the pistil "). 



FIG. 212. A Flax-flower, cut through lenpthwise. 



FIG. 213. Flower of a Cherry, divided in the same way. 



KIG. 214. Flowr of the common Purslane, divided lengthwise. 



