58 



THE FLOWER 



If all of the organs of each set are the same sizel and shape it 

 is regular, (i'ig. 40.) The opposites of the ahove are: incom- 

 plete, imperfect, unsymmetrical and irregular. The, apple, 

 peach and cherry (Figs. 40 and 41) are complete and perfect; 



the lily (Figs. 42 and 51) is 

 symmetrical and regular ; 

 the com (Figs. 46 and 48) 

 and castor oil plant are both 

 incomplete and imperfect ; 

 the apple and j)each nnsym- 

 metrical ; the violet and bean 

 (Fig. 47) irregular. 



Imperfect Flowers. — 

 Some plants bear two kinds 

 of imperfect flowers, those 

 with stamens which are 

 known as staminate flowers, 

 and those with pistils which 

 are known as pistillate flow- 

 ers. In some cases the two 

 sets of flowers are so different 

 in general appearance as to 



Fig. 45.— Single blossom of rye; a, stamen; o, be rcadilv distinguished while 

 pistil. . "^ 



m other cases they are very 

 much alike and cannot be distingiiished except by a more care- 

 ful examination. Plants which bear these two kinds of imperfect 

 flowers are said to be monoecious (Figs. 46 and 48), i.e., of one 

 household. The common corn is a good example of a mon- 

 oecious plant, the tassel being composed of staminate flowers 

 while each grain with a single thread of silk is a pistil. Each 

 mature grain of corn is a fniit produced from a single pistil- 

 late flower. 



Other plants bear the staminate and pistillate flowers on 

 difl"erent individuals and are knovra as dia'cious (i.e., of separate 



