178 THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



The vegetative organs may be very briefly described. The 

 plant has a stout tap-root, and at the base of the shoot are a number 

 of leaves closely crowded together. These have usually withered 

 at the time of flowering. Above this region the shoot has elongated 

 internodes, with the finely divided pinnate leaves borne singly 

 at the nodes. A bud is present in the axil of each leaf, but it 

 depends on the strength of the plant how many of these buds 

 develop into shoots. In smaller and weaker plants the main 

 axis may end in the single inflorescence and no lateral branches 

 form. In strong plants a number of branches may form, and the 

 lower and longer ones be in turn branched. Here also the main 

 axis and each lateral axis ends in an inflorescence. 



The inflorescence, as in the Daisy, consists of a large number 

 of small flowers crowded together on the enlarged end of the stem 

 of the inflorescence, and surrounded by a number of bracts. The 

 yellow disc-florets are to be distinguished from the white ray- 

 florets. The relative positions of the bracts, the ray-florets and 

 the florets of the disc, will be best appreciated if a flower-head is 

 cut in half (Fig. 84, 2, 9, 10). 



The disc-floret is best studied first, and for this purpose single 

 fully open florets (Fig. 84, 4) should be detached from the flower- 

 head. These florets are tubular and regular. At the base is a 

 relatively large, whitish structure, the inferior ovary, upon which 

 all the other parts of the flower stand. Within the ovary is a 

 single ovule, which can be seen if the ovary is held against the light. 

 The calyx is practically absent, consisting merely of a slight rim 

 or fringe below the corolla. The protection of the whole group of 

 florets when young is given by the bracts of the inflorescence. 

 The corolla is composed of five united petals and is tubular. 

 It is narrower below but widens out above and its edge bears 

 five yellow teeth, which are the free tips of the petals. On looking 

 into the corolla a yellow body composed of the five anthers will 

 be seen, and in old flowers the two lobes of the stigma will be 

 found projecting above this. The determination of the relative 

 positions of these parts requires delicate manipulation and the 

 assistance of a good lens. It will be understood from Fig. 84, 4, 

 which represents a mature floret cut through longitudinally. 

 The five stamens, which alternate in position with the teeth of 



