Tlie Elements of a Flower. 91 



a PEDUNCLE. The peduncle dies or falls when the fruit ripens, if not be- 

 fore. The stem of an apple is a peduncle. The peduncle of a dandelion 

 is hollow. When a peduncle has more than one flower on it, the little stem 

 of each is a pedicel. The stem of a red currant is a pedicel. 



The leafy part of the flower is named the perianth. Flowers that have 

 no perianth, as those of the oak, nut, and willow, are called achlamydcous. 



The outer part of the perianth is the calyx. Rarely it is some other 

 color than green, as in the prince's-feather. The calyx is made up of 

 leaves called sepals. In exogens, they are apt to be five in number. 



If there be within the calyx another row of more delicate leaves, they 

 are the corol. The corol consists of petals. Exogenous flowers have 

 mostly five petals. If the petals have a narrow part or stem, as in pinks, 

 the stem is a claw. The broader part is the limb. If the petals be united 

 into one, as in the phlox, the narrow part is the tube ; the broad, the limb. 

 Those plants which have a calyx, but no corol, are called apdalous or 

 monochlamydcous. 



Within the perianth are usually two classes of reproductive organs. The 

 outer are called male organs, or andrcecium. The andrcecium consists of 

 stamens. Each has a vessel, mostly two-celled, called the anther, gener- 

 ally mounted on a stem, the filament. In exogens, the stamens are often 

 five or ten in number. 



The other organs, the innermost, when present, are the gyncecium. It 

 consists of CARPELS, each of which has normally, at the base, a cavity for 

 seeds, the ovary ; above it, a slender part, the style ; and at or near 

 the summit, a moist spot, the stigma. The ovaries are frequently united 

 into a mass called a germ, and the whole gyncecium is called a pistil. 

 Each carpel, if distinct, is often called a pistil. If the g}'ncecium stands 

 on a stem within the flower, that stem is a gynophore. Gynandrous 

 plants (orchids) have the ^//oecium and the andrxs.c\v\m. united into one 

 mass. . If a flower have only one set of reproductive organs, it is called 

 monocUnous ; if both, diclinous. If it have an andrcecium only, it is called 

 male, or staminate ; if a g\'noecium only, female, ox pistillate. If it contain 

 both, it is perfect. If the staminate and pistillate flowers are found on the 

 same plant, as in oak, maize, melons, and squashes, the plant is called 

 mancecious ; if on different plants, as the hop, hemp, elm, willow, antl pop- 

 lar, it is dicecious. All our weeping-willows are pistillate only. 



