BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 115 



derful, when I inform you that the green calyx 

 slendidly colored corolla, stamens with yellow 

 anthers and pistil, are all, in reality, nothing but 

 mere leaves, and often change from these organs 

 into such, when circumstances favor such varia- 

 tion. 



L. Can it be possible ! 



E. Vegetable physiology is much more sim- 

 ple than you imagine, and by a little examina- 

 tion you will easily perceive the truth of the 

 fact I have stated. The affinity the leaves of 

 the calyx have to the common leaves of the 

 plant, inasmuch as they are often of the same 

 color and shape, and always perform the same 

 office, is undisputed; sometimes the calyx is 

 painted. The leaves of the corolla are in some 

 instances of a green color, which fact, with va- 

 rious other matters, needless to mention here, 

 proves their origin, the same as those of the 

 calyx, or common leaves. The stamens, by 

 excess of nourishment, will flatten and swell 

 out, becoming blossom leaves, as well as the 

 pistil ; now and then a second flower, with ca- 

 lyx, corolla, &c., springing up from the centre 

 of the first. 



L. That must be the case, I suppose, with 



