INFLORESCENCE. 85 



different trees ; and of the order Octandria, because its barren flow- 

 ers have eiaiht stamens. 



11th, Spadix, is an assem- 

 blap;e of flowers a-yowing upon 



Fig. 92, 



a common receptacle, and 



surrounded by a spatha or 

 sheath. At Fig. 92, A, a, is a 

 representation of the blossom 

 of the wild turnip, (arum ;) a 

 represents the spatha, which 

 is erect, sheathing, oblong, 

 convolute at the base, b ; and 

 it is compressed above and 

 below the middle ; c, repre- 

 sents the spadix, which, from 

 its club-shaped appearance, is 

 called clavi-form, (from clava, 

 a club.) 



At B, is the spadix divested 

 of the spatha ; a, is the clavi- 

 form summit ; 6, a ring of fila- 

 ments without anthers ; c, a 

 ring of sessile anthers ; d, a 

 dense ring of pistillate flowers 

 with sessile stigmas ; each 

 germ produces a one-celled, globular berry. This plant is of the 

 class Monopcia, because its staminate and pistillate flowers are sep- 

 arate, but yet grow on the same plant; it is in the order Polyandria, 

 because its stamens are numerous. 



Receptacle. 



The receptacle is tne extremity of the peduncle, it is also called 

 the clmanthe* from kline, bed, and anthos, flower ; at first it sup- 

 ports the flower, and afterward the fruit. As this is its only use, it 

 may properly be considered in connexion with the organs of fruc- 

 tification. In simple floweis, as the tulip, the receptacle is scarcely 

 to be distinguished from the peduncle, but in compound flowers it is 

 expanded, and furnishes a support for the flowers and fruit. Recep- 

 tacles are of various kinds; as, 



1st. Proper, which supports but one flower, as in the violet 

 and lily. 



2d. Common, which supports nicxny florets, the assemblage of 

 which forms an aggregate or compound flower, as in the sunflower 

 and dandelion. The common receptacle presents a great variety 

 of forms ; as concave, convex, flat, conical, or spherical. In the fig it 

 is concave, and constitutes the fruit. As to its surface, the recep- 

 tacle is punctate, as in the daisy ; hairy, as in the thistle ; naked, as 

 in the dandehon ; chaffy, as in the chamomile; it is pulpy in the 

 strawberry, and dry in most plants. 



3d. Rachis, is the filiform receptacle which connects the florets in 

 a spike, as in a head of wheat. 



Our examination of the flower is now completed. We shall, in 

 our next lecture, proceed to consider the change which takes place, 

 after the bloom and beauty of the plant have faded. We shafl 

 find that organs, at first scarcely perceptible, begin to develop 

 * Sometimes torus, from the Latin, signifying bed. 



Spadix— Receptacle--What is the proper receptacle? — What the common'? — What 

 is tlie rachis 1 



o 



