CHAPTEK VI. 



PLORAL SYMMETRY, PHYLLOTAXY, PREFOLIA- 

 TION, CYMOSE INFLORESCENCE, ETC. 



EXERCISE XLI. 

 Numerical Plan of the Flower. 



WHEN, in examining a flower, you count the parts 

 of its calyx and corolla, the stamens and the carpels, 

 and find that some particular number occurs again 

 and again ; and when, in case of deviation, you fre- 



FIG. 258. 



FIG. 259. 



FIG. 260. 



quently find multiples of it, the plan of the flower is 

 said to be based upon this number. For instance, 

 the plan of the flower represent- 

 ed in Fig. 258 is based on the 

 number three. The plan of the 

 flowers represented in Fig. 259 

 is based on the number four, and 

 that of Fig. 260 upon the number 

 five. In other words, in Fig. 258, 

 three, or its multiple, six, is the 

 constant number ; in Fig. 259, four is the prevailing 



number ; while in Fig. 260, it is five. 

 6 



