STRUCTURE OF FLOWERS. 51 



Divisions, and the calyx is said to be Bi-, Tri-, Quadri- 

 fid : if the union proceeds nearly to the apex, the free 

 parts are called Teeth, and the calyx is said to be Two-, 

 Three-, Four- &c. toothed : if the union reaches 

 the apex, the calyx is said to be Entire: if the sepals 

 are unequally united together, there may result, among 

 other combinations, the following : — Two or three may 

 be united on one side ; and there remains on the other, 

 either a single sepal not united so far, or two or three 

 united together beyond the point which connects them 

 with the preceding : the name of Lips is given to these 

 kinds of parcels, and the calyx is said to be Two-lipped 

 when there are, as is most frequently the case, two se- 

 pals united into an upper lip, and three in a lower one : 

 we say of a calyx that it is One-lipped, when all the 

 sepals are united together and thrown on one side, be- 

 cause the union on the other only takes place in a very 

 incomplete manner. Lastly, there are some rare cases 

 where the sepals are so united by their apices, that they 

 cannot be separated, and the calyx can only open by a 

 rupture at its base ; it is this which takes place in Eu- 

 calyptus, where it is broken transversely near the base 

 of the limb, and is detached in the form of a hood. For 

 a long time the calyx was considered to be a single 

 organ, which was cut or divided, without any reason 

 being given for these pretended divisions ; its structure 

 was then almost unintelligible, and unfortunately it was 

 at this period that the terms were established by which 

 its modifications are designated. I do not propose to 

 change them, for the fear of causing too great a confu- 

 sion ; but it is necessary to know, once for all, that all 

 that has been said of the divisions of calyces must be 

 understood to relate to sepals differently united together. 

 The use of the calyx is evidently to serve for the 

 covering and protection of the other floral organs during 



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