CULTiVATION AND AXALVSIS OF PLANTS. 





FLOWERS. 



OOKIXG at flowers from the technical, scientific standpoint, they are 

 the whole aggregate of the organs of reproduction; sesthetically they 

 are the crowning glory of the plant; and familiarly, the bloom or 

 blossom, the part for which alone most plants are cultivated. The 

 chief parts of the flower are the Calyx, Corolla, Stamen, Pistil, Peri- 

 carp, Seed, Receptacle and Nectary. 

 Caljx, from the Greek through the Latin, denoting a cup, is the outer 

 covering or leaf-like envelope of the flower, mostly green, but at times colored ; 

 it enfolds the bud before it is fully in bloom, and afterward generally' surrounds 

 tlie blossom loosely. Its chief use apparently is to support and protect the fine 

 inner parts by its greater consistency ; it was considered by Linnssus to be the 

 continuation of the outer bark, performing the same service to the bud as the bark does to 

 the stem. The calyx varies much; it is sometimes double, as in the Flax (49), and at 

 others is a mere ring which afterward becomes the down, as in the Teasel (50). 



Corolla, an abbreviated form of the Latin corofiilla, a little crown, comprises the 

 leaves of the flower proper, or blossom, within the calyx. These leaves are called petals, 

 and are usually as many as the sepals of the calyx. When the petals are all of the same 

 size and shape, the corolla is called regular, as in the Silene (51); and this regular corolla 

 maybe salver-shaped, as in the Lychnis (52); funnel-shaped, as in the Primrose (53); 

 wheel-shaped, as in the Holly (54); bell-shaped, as in the Bellflower (55); trumpet-shaped, 

 as in the Convolvulus (56). Other corollas are termed irregular, as when the petal is 

 only one, but divided into lobes; if the lobes are open, it is called gaping, as in the 

 Mint (57); if closed, personate or masked, as in the Snapdragon (58); when there are four 

 petals placed crosswise, the corolla is called cruciferous, as in the Radish (59) ; papiliona- 

 ceous, or butterfy-shaped, when there are five rudely resembling a butterfly, as in the 

 Pea (60). 



When the calyx and corolla are not readily distinguishable, the whole corresponding 

 part that encircles the stamens and pistils is called perianth, from two Greek words: peri, 

 around, and anthos, a flower. Sometimes this word is used by preference, and said to be 

 double when the calyx and corolla are both present and clearly distinguishable. Some 

 flowers have neither calyx nor corolla, as in the Equisetum (61). 



Stamen, from the Greek through the Latin, signifying the warp, and this from its 

 standing or upright property, denotes one of the small organs, of which there are 

 generally several, that stand around the center of the perianth, as in the Coreopsis (62), and 

 in most flowers. They comprise the j^Vawew/, or thread-like (sometimes awl-like), upright 

 portion, and the ai/tkcr, or flower proper, which is the part essential to reproduction, and 

 contains the tine w bite, yellow or black dust called pollen, or fertilizing matter. The 

 filaments arc sometimes in bundles, as in the St. Johnswort (63), and at others form a 

 hollow tube, as in the Mallows (64); the anthers are sometimes free when standing sepa- 

 rately (63), or united into a ring, as in the Dandelion (65). 



Pistil, from the Latin denoting a pestle, is the central part and seed-bearing organ 

 of the flower, as in the Anagallis (66); and comprises three parts: the ovary {a), the hol- 



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