50 VEGETABLE ORGANOGRAPHY. 



cescent, as in the Broom; or they become fleshy, as in 

 certain Ficoids; or they increase in size, remaining folia- 

 ceous, and are said to be Accrescent, as in the Alke- 

 kengi. Some calyces present a singular mode of fall; 

 viz., their upper parts remain close or united together 

 after flowering, and the tube is cut transversely by a 

 rupture, either near the base or at the origin of the 

 lobes : it is thus that the cap-like calyx of Eucalyptus 

 is formed, and in an analogous manner, that of Scutel- 

 laria galericulata is cut transversely near the base, when 

 the seeds are ripe. 



When the sepals are articulated at their base, they 

 can never be united together, and are therefore con- 

 stantly distinct. When, on the contrary, they are con- 

 tinuous with the stem, they are presented under two 

 states ; sometimes free with regard to each other, some- 

 times united together at their margins by a kind <of 

 natural union, taking -place before they are visible exter- 

 nally. In this case, we easily recognise, in the greater 

 number of species, the existence of partial sepals, either 

 by the disposition of the nerves, or because the union is 

 hardly ever so complete as for one part not to remain 

 free near the top, forming the lobes of calyces with 

 united sepals. 



Calyces with free sepals are said to be Polysepa- 

 locs; and when we wish to express at the same time 

 their number as well as freedom, we say Bi-, Tri-, 

 Tetra- &c. sepalous. 



Those with united sepals are called Gamosepalous, 

 or improperly Monosepalous, because, on account of 

 their union, they seem to form only a single body. If 

 they are only united at their base, their free parts are 

 designated by the name of Partitions, and the calyx 

 itself is said to be Bi-, Tri-, Quadri-partite : if the 

 union proceeds as far as the middle, they are named 



