CARPELS. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE FLOWER. 

 J3. OF THE PISTIL, AND THE ARTIFICIAL ORDERS. 



FIG. 10. 1, Pistil of a whortleberry (Vaccinium amoenum) ; 6, the stigma; c, style j o, the 

 epigynous disk ; e, perpendicular section of the ovary combined with the adherent (superior) 

 calyx ; d, the placenta with the ovules ; 2, the gyncecium of a flower with 5 pistils, showing 

 the carpels and styles distinct ; 7, cross section of the same ; 3, the carpels united and the 

 styles distinct ; 6, cross section of the same ; 4, both carpels and styles united ; 5, cross section 

 of the same ; 8, leaf of Bryophyllum, putting forth buds from its margin ; 9, carpel of the gar- 

 den cherry, reverting to the form of the leaf; 10, two such carpels ; 11, two perfect carpels. 



75. THE pistil (or pistils) occupies the centre of the flower, at 

 the termination of the axis. It consists of three parts, the ovary, 

 or germ, a, (Fig. 4.) the style, b, and the stigma, c. The style is 

 sometimes wanting, and the stigma then becomes sessile upon 

 the ovary. (See also Figs. 10, 11.) 



76. The OVARY (Lat. ovarium, a depository, from ovum, an 

 egg) is the tumid and hollow part of the pistil, situated at its 

 base, containing the ovules, or young seeds within its cavities, 

 and destined to become the fruit. 



77. The ovary is either simple or compound. When com- 

 pound, it consists of two or more lobes or divisions, called 

 CARPELS (xctQnos, fruit), united together more or less closely. 



4* 



