CHAPTER XI 



THE FLO WER ^ 



§ 41. Of what parts does the flower consist ? 



In the case of a complete flower we must distinguish two 

 groups of organs. We have first of all the essential organs of 

 reproduction, the stamens and the pistil, and secondly the less 

 important protective organs (sepals and petals), which may be 

 only rudimentary, or indeed entirely absent. If there is only one 

 set of protective leaves, the covering formed by them is termed 

 the perianth. The simplest flowers may consist of a single 

 sexual organ, as, for instance, is the case in the female flowers 

 of the Yew (Taxus). Usually, however, a number of different 

 organs are collected in a flower, and are often arranged in a 

 number of whorls one below the other, and then each group of 

 such organs has received a special name. All the male repro- 

 ductive organs (stamens) are collectively termed the andrceeeum, 

 while the female reproductive organs (carpels) form the grynse- 

 eeum. If the male and female organs are surrounded by the 

 same perianth, the flower is termed hermaphrodite, while a uni- 

 sexual (dicli?ious) flower will contain either stamens or pistil 

 only. The separation of sexes may be of such a nature that 

 both occur at least on the same plant (monaxious), or the separa- 

 tion is so thoroughgoing that each individual has only sexual 

 organs of one kind (dio.'cioiis). 



^ At the commencement of this chapter we again point out that tlie reader 

 must not expect a description of the various modifications of flowers occurring 

 in the different natural orders of flowering plants. This book deals with the 

 functions of the flowers as a whole, and we shall discuss them in the case of 

 a flower in which they are most typically represented. The systematic 

 description of the peculiarities of the different families, orders, and genera 

 will be found in every text-book of botany, and we only mention here those 

 anatomical and physiological peculiarities which are necessary for a scientific 

 application of horticultural methods. 



