MODIFICATIONS OP THE FLORAL ORGANS. 181 



the stamens and carpels, cohere together. This case, neverthe- 

 less, presents itself in Orchideous plants, which constitute the 

 true gynandrous plants of Linnaeus. 



The adherence of the different verticils among themselves is 

 called their insertion. It is above all essential to study the 

 insertion of the stamens, as it furnishes for the natural co-ordi- 

 nation of plants, characters of the first value. Three modes of 

 insertion have been distinguished, called hypogynous p*o 

 under, ywy female or pistil), perigynous ( rtspi around), and 

 epigynous (irti upon.) 



The hypogynical insertion is that in which the stamens are 

 inserted upon the ovary, which is therefore necessarily free and 

 superior, as for instance, in the Ranunculus. This kind of in- 

 sertion is readily recognized in this, that we are able to remove 

 the calyx without carrying the stamens away at the same time. 



The perigynical insertion takes place when the stamens are 

 attached to the calyx and surround the ovary, as in the 

 strawberry (Fragaria.) This is distinguished by this, that 

 when we remove the calyx, we necessarily remove the stamens 

 at the same time, which are inserted on it. 



The epigynical insertion is that in which the stamens are 

 inserted upon the superior part of the ovary, which necessarily 

 happens whenever the ovary is inferior. 



One or more organs of the same verticil, may have been 

 suppressed or rendered abortive. Abortions and suppressions 

 contribute more than any other cause to destroy the symmetry 

 and regularity of the floral organs. Abortion is the state of 

 an organ which, after having commenced to form, is arrested in 

 its evolution and remains reduced to a species of stump, some- 

 times a gland ; suppression indicates the total absence of the 

 organ, which has not even commenced to develope itself. 



16* 



