192 PRACTICAL BOTANY 



slitting the tubular portion there may be seen a more 

 or less reduced style inserted on the apex of the 

 ovary : the stamens are abortive. The florets are thus 

 neuter. 



Examine one of the florets of the disk in detail, 

 noting first its position in the axil of a bracteole : 

 observe 



1. At the base the laterally compressed ovary, which 

 is inferior. 



2. Seated in an antero-posterior position above it are 

 two chaffy scales, which represent the calyx, and it is 

 accordingly superior. 



3. Above this is the tubular yellow corolla, with a 

 throat narrowed below, and terminated by five teeth : 

 it thus consists of five petals, gamopetalous and 

 superior. 



4. Projecting from the tube of the corolla may be 

 seen a dark-coloured, cylindrical body, composed of 

 the coherent anthers, and projecting through the 

 tube is 



5. The bifid and recurved stigma. 



Slit the tube of the corolla longitudinally, and note 

 the five separate filaments of the stamens, which 

 insert themselves on the inner surface of the narrow 

 throat of the corolla (epipetalous), while the anthers 

 are united above so as to form a tube (syngenesious). 



Remove the corolla and stamens : the long cylindrical 

 style will remain rising from the apex of the ovary, 

 and terminating in a bifid stigma : thus it is indi- 

 cated that there are two carpels, syncarpous and 

 inferior. 



Open the ovary longitudinally, and note the single 



