INTRODUCTION. 7 



of a Passion flower, the cup of a Narcissus, and the spur or 

 horn of a Lark's -spur. In the Violet it is also a spur. 



The PISTIL, (11,) or pointal, is always in the centre of the 

 whole flower. When fully formed, it consists of the germ or 

 young seed-vessel at the lower part; next, the thread-like 

 portion, called the style ; arid at the top of this the stigma, 

 which is usually knobbed and sticky. Sometimes there are 

 more styles than one, and then the top of each is a stigma. In 

 other cases the style is wanting, and then the top of the germ 

 itself is the stigma. The use of the pointal is to collect the 

 pollen from the stamens, and to convey it to the young seeds in 

 the germ, without which they do not become perfect. 



The STAMENS, (12 and 13,) are the parts seen between the 

 corolla and the pointal. They are attached sometimes to the 

 corolla, at others to the calyx, and in some plants to the pointal. 

 A stamen consists of a thread-like portion, called the filament, 

 and of a thicker club-shaped part, called the anther or pollen 

 case, the use of which is to perfect and produce pollen for the 

 supply of the pistil. 



The PERICARP, (14 and 15,) seed vessel or fruit, now ripe 

 and opening to scatter the perfect seeds within. It is seen 

 divided or burst into three parts or seed valves, having a row 

 of seeds in each. Before it thus opens the pericarp is a nearly 

 round body, with one cavity or cell, and which, if cut across, 

 will show the seeds to be attached in three rows, equally distant 

 from each other. 



A seed consists of a thick coat or skin, called the axil. This 

 being peeled off will exhibit two equal lobes, seed leaves, or 

 cotyledons, connected together by a small bud, called the 

 embryo. This structure is to be seen very easily in the common 

 Bean or Pea. A few plants are furnished with more than two 

 cotyledons, as Fir trees ; numerous others, as the Grasses and 

 Lilies, have but one. 



