46 ITIUCTIFICATIOJV. 



III. STAMEN, (stamen.') PI. 12, fig. 5. Common- 

 ly consisting of a thread-like body, bearing a sack at 

 top, containing a coloured dust, placed internally in re- 

 spect to the corolla. This is essential. 



IV. PISTIL, (pistoHum.) PI. 12, fig. 4. In the centre 

 of the flower, consisting of the rudiments of the fruit, 

 with one or more organs attached to them, and, of 

 course, essential. 



V. PERICARP, (jpericarpinm.*) PI. 14, fig 6,7, &c. 

 The seed- vessel, of a pulpy, woody or leathery texture, 

 enclosing the seeds, but wanting in many plants. 



VI. SEED, (semen] the perfecting of which is the 

 sole end of all the other parts of the fructification. 



VII. RECEPTACLE, (receptaculnm.^) PI. 12, fig. 2, a. 

 The basis or point of connexion of the other parts. 

 This must necessarily be present in some form or other. 



Observation. Each of these seven parts occurs under a variety of 

 forms, which are next to be explained. 



I. Calyx. 



THE CALYX or external covering of the flower, 

 when present, was originally divided by Linnaeus into 

 seven kinds. 



Observation. As the student is beginning to examine flowers, he 

 should be reminded that all DOUBLE Flowers, ( f lores pleni,) are 

 imperfect. Although they are esteemed in the gardens as beauti- 

 ful, yet they are unfit for botanical illustration and have been em- 

 phatically called vegetable monsters. This fullness or impletion as 

 it is termed, of flowers, takes place in a variety of ways ; but the 

 most common, is by the conversion of the stamens into petals. 



The seeds of double flowers are imperfect, because the organs 

 which are necessary to the formation of perfect seed, are oblite- 

 rated. Impletion is caused by excess of nourishment, and is prin- 

 cipally the result of art occuring almost exclusively among culti- 

 vated plants. This shews us that deformity, in consequence of 

 luxury, occurs in the natural as well as in the moral world. 



The attention of the young- botanist is therefore directed to the 

 fields and woods in preference to the garden. The cultivated Rose, 

 Pseony, Double Carnation, See. are examples of double flowers. 



1. PERIANTH, (perianthium.') PL 13, fig. i. A ca- 

 lyx which is contiguous to, and makes a part of the 



