CALYX. 



fi? 



When the calyx drops off before the flower fully expands, it is 

 called caducous; the petals of the poppy are, at first, enclosed in a 

 calyx of two large green leaves, but these fall oft" before the flower is 

 full blown. When the calyx withers and drops off with the corolla, 

 it is called deciduous. In many plants it remains until the fruit is 

 matured; it is then called persistent. Upon a pea-pod, for example, 

 the calyx may be seen as perfect as it was in the blossom, On ex- 

 amining an apple or pear, the dried leaves of the calyx may be seen 

 on the top of the fruit; this shows that the calyx was superior, as 

 well as persistent. 



According to the divisions of Linnaeus, there are seven kinds of 

 calyxes ; viz. 



Perianth, Involucrum, Amevt, Spatha, Glume, Calyptra, Volva. 



Perianth. This term is derived from the two Greek words, peri, 

 around, and anthos, flower. This is the only real calyx or cup, as 

 the term cup does not properly apply to the other kinds. A good 

 example of the perianth calyx is presented in the rose, where it is 

 ?frn-f(>rm, with divisions at the top resembling small leaves. In the 

 pink, the perianth is long and tubular, having the border dentate or 

 toothed. The holly-hock, hibiscus, and many other plants, have a 

 double perianth. The term perianth is often used when a flower 

 has but one envelope, as in the tuhp ; and more especially in cases 

 where it is difficult to determine whether this envelope should be 

 called a corolla or calyx. 



Involucrum. This term is derived from the Latin, involvo, to wrap 

 up ; this kind of calyx is usually found at the base of an umbel, as 

 in the carrot. It is said to be universal, when it belongs equally to 

 the whole of an aggregate flower; and partial* when it encloses 

 one floret which, with others, constitutes a compound or aggregate 

 flower. The term involucrum is also applied to the membranous 

 covering in the fructification of ferns. 



Ante nl or catkin,\ is a kind of calyx, by some classed as a mode 

 of inflorescence ; it consists of many chaffy scales, ranged along a 

 thread-like stalk or receptacle; each scale protects one or more of 

 the stamens or pistils, the whole forming one aggregate flower. The 

 ament is common to forest trees, as the oak and chestnut ; and is 

 also found upon the willov/ and poplar. In some trees, the staminate 

 flowers are enclosed in an ament, and the pistillate in a perianth. 



Spatha, or sheath. It is that kind of 

 calyx which first encloses the flower, 

 luxx z^:^^^^^^ and when this expands, bursts length- 



u\ '^^^^^^^\ / '^^ •'^'^ ^^'^ often appears at some dis- 



i,V\\j (Ly^k I tance below it. The wild turnip, or 

 Alum, furnishes an example of this 

 vUid of calyx, enclosing a kind of inflo- 

 lescence called a spadix, (Fig. 67. a.) 

 Fiomthe peculiar appearance of the 

 spadix as it stands up surrounded by 

 the spatha, it is sometimes called Jack- 

 in the-bo.r. The spatha is common in 

 many of our cultivated exotics, as in 

 the Narcissus, where it appears brown- 

 ish and withered, after the full expan- 

 sion of the flower. You see here a re- 



See Fig. 128, a, a. 



i See Fig. 91. 



Duration— Different kinds of calyxes— Perianth— Involucrum— Ament— Spatha, 



