164 BOTANY. [CHAP. v. 



axis of the flower, and are not in any way adherent to 

 any of the other whorls, they are said to be hypogynous. 

 This arrangement of the stamens is seen in buttercups, 



Fig. 48. Red corn-poppy (Pa- 

 paver rhceas) showing the hypogy- 

 nous stamens originating directly 

 from the thalamus or axis of 

 the flower ; the superior pistil is 

 syncarpous, and surmounted by 

 several radiating, minutely vel- 

 vety stigmas. (Natural size.) 



poppies, geraniums, etc., and in reality is the only 

 position from which stamens originate in every known 

 flower ; but in numerous instances the stamens, instead 

 of remaining perfectly free from the other whorls of the 

 flower, become adherent to a greater or less extent, and 

 in such cases appear at first sight as if they actually 

 started in the first instance from the organ to which 

 they are adherent. When stamens appear to grow from 

 the calyx, as in the roses, brambles, saxifrages, etc., 

 they are described as perigynous. When the stamens 

 appear to grow from the petals they are described as 

 epipetalous ; and, with very rare exceptions, the stamens 

 are always epipetalous when the corolla is gamopetalous. 

 Stamens that appear to originate from the top of the 

 ovary, as in the parsnip (Pastinaca sativum), and cicely 

 (Myrrhis odorata), are described as epigynous ; while 

 finally in the orchids, the one or two stamens present are 

 adherent to the style, and are said to be gynandrous. 

 The various positions occupied by stamens as described 

 above are not sharply separated from each other, but 

 connected by intermediate stages ; for example, in the 



