ISO THE SECOND BOOK OF BOTANY. 



EXERCISE VIII. 

 On Polyandrous Stamens. 



We now take up the study of the flower at just 

 the point where it was left in " The First Book of 

 Botany." While using that book you learned the 

 names of the floral organs, and observed their num- 

 ber. You also examined the calyx and corolla to 

 learn whether or not their parts were grown to- 

 gether. If the sepals were not grown together, the 

 calyx was described as polysepalous, and, if they were 

 grown together, it was said to be gamosepalous. So, 

 also, when the petals of the corolla were distinct, the 

 corolla was said to be polypetalous, and, when grown 

 together, gamopetalous. 



We will proceed to an examination of the essen- 

 tial organs in this respect. 



Gather all the flowers you can find, and observe 

 the stamens, to see if they are grown together. Put 

 aside all that have united stamens, whatever their de- 

 gree of union. 



Now inspect the flowers with distinct stamens, 

 and put by themselves all that have more than twelve. 



A flower with more than twelve distinct stamens 

 is said to have its stamens indefinite. 



They are definite when there is a fixed number 

 not above twelve. 



Separate those with indefinite stamens, and label 

 them polyandrous (from poly, many, and andria, 

 stamens), which means many distinct stamens. 



IsTow examine the flowers with definite stamens, 

 and label each one with the name that, in the follow- 



