10 ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURAL BOTANY. 



flower which we have been exam- 

 iniug. This is owing to the growth 

 of the ovules, which have now 

 become seeds. Eemove one of 

 Fig. 14. Fig. 15. the carpels, and carefully cut it 

 through the middle lengthwise. You will find that the 

 seed almost entirely fills the cavity. (Figs, li and 15.) 

 This seed consists mainly of a hard substance 

 called albimen, enclosed in a thin covering. At 

 the lower end of the albumen is situated a very 

 small body, which is the embryo. It is this 

 which develops into a new plant when the seed germi- 

 nates. 



13. We have seen then that our plant consists of 

 several parts : 



(1). The Root. This penetrates the soil, avoiding 

 the light. It is nearly white, is made up of fibres, from 

 which numbers of much finer fibres are given off, and 

 is entirely destitute of buds and leaves. 



(2). The Stem. This grows upward, is coloured, 

 bears foliage-leaves at intervals, gives off branches from 

 the axils of these, and bears flowers at its upper end. 



(3). The Leaves. These are of two sorts : JFo?«"rt;/e- 

 Jmves and Floiter-leaves. The former are sub-divided 

 into radical and cauline, and the latter make up the 

 flower, the parts of which are four in number, viz. : 

 calyx corolla, stamens, and pistil. 



It is of great importance that you should make your- 

 selves thoroughly familiar with the different parts of the 

 l^lant, .as just described, before going further, and to 

 that end it will be desirable for you to review the pre- 

 sent chapter carefully, giving special attention to those 



