FLOWERS. 5 1 



number of parts, and imperfect or incomplete when 

 one or more of these is wanting. 



It will simplify this, as I conceive, to consider the 

 floral envelope as in all cases the expanded bud-scales 

 of the flower, which enwrapped and protected it while 

 in embryo, and which afterwards fall off, as in the 

 poppy, or remain, as in the rose, after flowering. 



In mushrooms and other funguses, the part analo- 

 gous to the scales of the expanded flower-bud is termed 

 the curtain ', which varies in being near or distant 

 from the cup. 



In mosses, the analogous part is termed a veil 2 , 

 which is very distinctly seen in the hair moss and the 

 hygrometric moss. 



In grasses and corn the scales of the expanded flower- 

 bud are termed a husk 3 , which may consist of only 

 one piece, as in rye-grass ; two pieces, as in hair grass; 

 or many pieces, as in panic grass. All the husks are 

 called chaff 4 . 



In many bulbous and other plants, the expanded 

 scales of the flower-bud form a sheath 5 of one piece, 

 as in the snowdrop and daffodil : of two pieces, as in 

 water soldier ; tiled, as in the plantain tree ; or partial, 

 as in African ixia. 



In all the preceding varieties, the part in question is 

 rarely green, and most commonly some shade of yellow 

 or white; but in the greater number of flowers it is 

 green, very similar in appearance and structure to 



(1) In Latin, Volva. (2) In Latin, Calyptra. 



(3) In Latin, Gluma. (4) In Latin, Palea. 



(5) In Latin, Spatha. 



