49 



there is no adhesion between the gynoeciuin and the other 

 floral members, the gynoscium is still quite free from the 

 latter and is superior. Finally, there are cases in which 

 the other floral members are united with the gynoecium and 

 in which the adhesion is carried right up to the top of the 

 gynoecium, so that the latter appears to be completely enclosed 

 and covered in, while the sepals, petals, and stamens appear 

 to arise on the top of, or above, the gynoecium. The sepals,, 

 petals and stamens are here said to be epigynous, or superior,, 

 the flower itself is epigynous and the gynoecium is inferior. For 

 illustrations see Figs. 11 14, Plate X. The typical cases noted 

 above are linked together by a number of intermediate forms ; 

 thus in some flowers there is adhesion between the gynoecium 

 and the other members, but this adhesion only extends about 

 half-way up the gynoecium. Such flowers are best considered 

 as imperfectly epigynous, and the gynoecium may be described 

 as half -inferior. In the case of other flowers, where the 

 insert ons of the petals and stamens are only very slightly re- 

 moved from the receptacle, it is often difficult to decide if 

 they should be classed as hypogynous or perigynous. The 

 fact that, sometimes, the so-called calyx-tube is found to bear 

 rudimentary leaves, indicates that this is', in many cases, really 

 an outgrowth of the floral axis, or receptacle, and that it does 

 not consist merely of the coalescent bases of the sepals and 

 other floral leaves. 



46. The torus, or floral recep- The Diso. 

 tacle, frequently grows out and forms what is called a 



disc, this being merely an expansion of the receptacle. 

 It is usually a fleshy, swollen ring of tissue which may, 

 or may not, be lobed, or divided. When the disc is 

 divided into distinct portions the separate parts of it are termed 

 glands. The disc and glands frequently excrete a sweet, 

 sugary fluid commonly known as nectar and each is then called 

 a nectary. The disc is usually developed between the stamens 

 and the gynoecium, but sometimes also between the petals and 

 stamens, and sometimes it bears the insertions of the petals 

 and stamens. According to its apparent place of origin, the 

 disc may be hypogynous, perigynous, or epigynous. 



47. In addition to the terms Descriptive 



which have been already given for ordinary leaves, the Terms for 

 following are often used for describing the shape cf sepals and 



and petals. If they have a narrow base supporting a broad 

 expanded blade, the former is termed the claw and the latter 



the blade, or lamina. If strap-shapsd they are termed 



