4 INTRODUCTION. 



When in its. most complete state a plant consists of F0ot ? 

 stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit or seed. The three first of 

 these are the preservative organs, and the flowers and fruit the 

 reproductive organs. All other parts are called appendages, 

 and have different names, according to their origin, form, and 

 situation. In certain plants several of these appendages are 

 present, and in most some one or other of them is, to be 

 discovered. 



The essential organs of a plant, as well as three different appendages, 

 are seen in the following representation of the Heart's-ease or Trl-coloreci 

 Violet a plant common in all our corn fields and gardens. 



1. The Root. 2. Stem. 3. Leaf. 4. Stipules. 5. Bracts. 6. Peduncle. 

 7. Petiole. 8. Calyx. 9. Corolla. 10. Nectary. 11. Pistil. 12. Stamens. 

 13, 14, 15. Seed vessel. 16. Seeds, 



The ROOT, (1,) is that part which grows downwards. It 

 keeps the plant fixed, and draws water, &c., from the earth for 

 its support. This it does by means of the points of the fine 

 fibres by which the thicker part or body of the root is always 

 attended. 



