30 



ELEMENTS OF STRUCTUR-AJ, BOTANY. 



more accurately the calt/.r-tuhe, which adheres to the 

 whole surface of the ovary, and expands above into 

 four long teeth. The ovary therefore is inferior, and 

 the calyx of course superior, in this flower. As the 

 sepals unite below to form the tube the calyx is gam- 

 osepalous. 



The corolla consists of four petals, free from each 

 other, and is consequently polypetalous. It- is also 

 regular, the petals being alike in size and shape. Each 

 petal is narrowed at the base into what is called the 

 olaw of the petal, the broad part, as in the oi'dinary 

 foliage-leaf, being the blade. 



The stamens are eight in number (octandrous), four 

 short and four long, and are attached to the calyx 

 (perigynous). 



41. The pistil has its three parts, ovary, style, and 

 stigma, very distinctly marked. The stigma consists 

 of four long lobes, which curl outwards after the flower 

 opens. The style is long and slender. The examina- 

 tion of the ovary requires much care. You will get the 



best idea of its structure 

 by taking one which has 

 » just burst open, and begun 

 to discharge its seeds (Fig. 

 41). The outside will then 

 be seen to consist of four 

 pieces (valves), whilst the 

 cenf.re is occupied by a 

 slender four-winged col- 

 umn, (Fig. 42), in the 

 grooves of which the seeds 

 are compactly arranged. 

 The pistil thus consists 



Fir. -12. 



Fig. 41. 



