SUPPRESSION OR ARORTION OK PARTS. 



2G1 



482. In some flowers, moreover, as in the Lizard's-tail (Fig. 412), 

 both the calyx and the corolla are entirely wanting, and the blossom 

 is achlamydeons, i. e. destitute of any perianth 

 or floral envelopes whatever. Having the es- 

 sential organs, viz. the stamens and pistils, how- 

 ever, this flower also is perfect (hermaphrodite, 

 or bisexual), although incomplete. 



483. The abortion of all 

 the stamens or all the pis- 

 tils of a flower is common 

 enough, as well in flowers that have as in 

 those that have not complete floral envelopes ; 

 but whenever either of these essential organs 

 are abortive or wanting in some blossoms, they 

 are present in others of the same species, 

 either on the same or on different individuals. 

 Flowers of this kind having stamens only or 

 ^-^^V^y pistils only are said to be separated, diclinous, 



or unisexual. And the flower which has the 

 stamens but no pistils, or only imperfect ones, is said to be staminate, 

 sterile, or male ; while 

 that provided with 

 pistils, but with no 

 stamens, or only im- 

 perfect ones, is pis- 

 tillate, fertile, or fe- 

 male. Not to multi- 

 ply examples, in Smi- 

 lax and in Menisper- 

 mum(Fig. 413, 414) 

 we have good instan- 

 ces of separated flow- 

 ers in which the ahor- 

 tion is confined to the 

 stamens or the pistils, 

 the floral envelopes 

 being present and 



FIG 412 Flower of Lizard's-tail (Saururus cernuus), magnified. 



FIG 413 A staminate flower of Menispermum or Moonseed. 414. A pistillate flower of 

 the same The latter lias six abortive stamens : the former, mere vestiges of pistils 



FIG 415. A catkin of staminate flowers of Salix alba. 416. A single staminate flower de- 

 tached aud enlarged (the bract turned from t.us eje) 41T. A pistillate cutkiu of the same 

 species 41S A detached pistillate flower, maguined. 



