60 



THE FLOWER 



In the examination of a large number of plants we will find 

 many interesting modifications of strictly monoecious and di- 

 oecious types. The Indian turnip or Jack-in-the-pulpit (Fig. 

 49) is usually dioecious, but many plants will be found which 

 are monoecious. Some species of plants, of which the maples 

 are good examples, both bear perfect and imperfect flowers, while 

 individuals are frequently found which do not bear flowers 

 of any kind. 



FIG. 47. Legume blossom; a and b, the blossom; c, the blossom dissected showing the 

 petals; d, the sepal, stamen and pistil; e, the mature seed pod. 



Modified Calyx and Corolla Both the calyx and the cor- 

 olla are frequently modified. The simplest modification is 

 the union or partial union of the sepals or petals or both to 

 form tubes. Flowers in which these unions occur are described 

 as gamo-sepalous and gamo-petalous (Fig. 50), while those in 

 which there is no union are described as poly-petal ous and poly- 

 sepalous. (Figs. 40, 42, 43 and 51. ) The petals and sepals may 

 also be modified to form spurs, as in the violet, or in many dther 

 ways. The calyx and corolla are borne on the receptacle, but 

 in some cases the corolla appears to be attached to the calyx. 

 We will find these numerous modifications of very great inter- 

 est, and they are of very great importance in the life history of 



