86 SUMMER FLOWERS. 



the pistil, the lower part of the tube being bare, like a shaft, and 

 the upper decorated with the numerous one-celled anthers, 

 arranged around it in several series, above which the cluster of 

 ten styles projects. The fruit consists of about ten carpels united 

 into a flattish disk or ring, seated within the persistent calyx. 



The Linden, or Lime-tree,* found in woods over the greater 

 part of Europe, and wild in some parts of England, represents 

 a large tropical Order of plants, the Tiliaceous family, which is 

 related to that of Malvaceous plants, but differs in having the 

 two-celled anthers free, or, at least, not consolidated into a 

 column. The Lime forms a large and handsome deciduous 

 tree, furnished with stalked broadly heart-shaped leaves, ex- 

 tended into a point. The inflorescence consists of small cymes 

 produced on the current year's shoots and hanging down 

 on axillary peduncles among the leaves, the peduncle being 

 winged halfway up by a long leaf-like bract, with which it is 

 so far confluent. The flowers themselves are small, greenish, 

 very sweet-scented, consisting of five small sepals and petals, 

 and numerous stamens, which cohere at the very base into se- 

 veral clusters. The globular ovary becomes a small nut, con- 

 taining one or two seeds. 



The Hypericaceous family is confined among British plants 

 to the single genus Hypericum, called St. John's Wort, of which 

 the Small Upright St. John's Wort f is a very good repre- 

 sentative. This little plant grows with stiff erect slender stems, 

 one to two feet high, bearing a few short lateral branches, and 

 furnished with opposite cordate leaves, clasping the stem at the 

 base ; those of the branches are smaller and narrower, but all 

 are marked with pellucid dots, which become evident on hold- 

 ing up the leaf to the light. The flowers form an oblong 



* Tilia europcea Plate 9 D. 



f Hypericwn pulchrum Plate 10 A. 



