ON VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 75 



another part of the flower, according to the vary- 

 ing circumstances of each individual. 



The pistil ', which is formed of the pith of the 

 plant, is a small and column-shaped substance, 

 occupying almost invariably the centre of the 

 flower, where it is encompassed immediately by 

 the stamens. It varies in number, being some- 

 times one, as in the cherry; and sometimes more 

 than one, as in the apple and pear. It consists of 

 at least two, but more generally of three distinct 

 parts ; the ovary the style and the stigma, or 

 summit. 



The ovary is situated at its lower extremity or 

 base, supporting the style and stigma, and from 

 containing the rudiments of a new plant, has been 

 denominated by Linna3us, the germ, or germen. 

 In its figure and shape, it varies in different 

 plants; consisting in some of only one cell, and 

 in others of more, according to the peculiarity of 

 each individual flower. 



The style, which is the middle portion of the 

 pistil, is a prolongation of the substance of the 

 ovary, being terminated at its upper extremity by 

 the summit or stigma, thus forming a line of 

 communication between the two extreme parts. 



The stigma is a small glandular looking sub- 

 stance, sometimes of a triangular, at other times, 

 of a circular shape, placed at the top of the 

 style, and from which it is also denominated, the 

 summit of the pistil ; as the style may be termed 

 centre, and the ovary or germ, the base. 



