182 



COMPOUND FLOWERS. 



Ficr. 143. 



The term Syngenesia signifies a union of 

 anthers ; this circumstance, you can readily 

 conceive, forms a difference between this 

 class and those which are distinguished by 

 ^' a union of filaments ; in the one case, the 

 tops of the stamens, or the anthers, are uni- 

 ted, while the lower parts are separate ; in 

 the other case, the tops are separate, while 

 the filaments, or lower parts of the stamens, 

 are united. 



The number of stamens in plants of this 

 class is mostly 5, distinguished from the 

 fifth class not only by the compound cha- 

 racter of the flowers, but by a union of 

 anthers. In some cases, plants with five 

 stamens have their anthers united, but having no other resem- 

 blance to those of the class Syngenesia, they are retained in the 

 fifth class : the violet and impatiens are examples of this irregulari- 

 ty. This is an instance in which the artificial arrangement is made 

 to bend to natural resemblances. 



The term compound relates to the arrangement of the flowers, 

 which are so closely connected as to have the appearance of one 

 single flower. From the union of their stamens, these flowers are 

 also called Syngenesious. The compound flowers have, by bota- 

 nists, been distinguished under the three heads of se7m-JioscuIous, (hav- 

 ing lig2ilale florets ;) Jiosculous, (having tubular florets ;) and radi- 

 ated, having tubular florets in the centre and ligulate at the circum- 

 ference ; the latter florets are called rays. 



The semi-Jloscidous division contains a milky juice, which is bitter 

 and of a narcotic quality ; as the lettuce (Lactuca) and dandelion ; 

 their florets are all of one colour. The jioscidous division usually 

 exhibit in the leaves and roots a predominance of the bitter princi- 

 ple, as the burdock, (Arctium ;) their florets are also of one colour. ' 

 The radiated division is mostly composed of plants called Corym- 

 oiferous, (from corymb and fero, to bear,) because their flowers are 

 corymbs, as the Chrysanthemum, Aster, &c. This division includes 

 many beautiful flowers, with splendid colours ; and also affords many 

 medicinal plants, as tansey and bone-set, (Eupatorium.) The colour 

 of the florets in the disk and ray is often different in these flowers. 



The compound flowers begin to blossom in the latter part of sum- 

 mer, and are found bordering upon the verge of winder. The dan- 

 delion is among the earliest flowers of spring, and one of the latest 

 of autumn. The daisy is found in almost every spot which exhibits 

 any marks of fertility ; these are not single flowers, like the violet or 

 rose, but crowded clusters of little florets. 



The sun-flower 'is so large and conspicuous as doubtless to have 

 frequently attracted your notice. If you examine one carefully, 

 you will find it to be composed of more than a hundred little flowers, 

 each as perfect in its kind as a lily, having a corolla, stamens, pistil, 

 and seed. We distinguish the sun-flower into two parts, — the disk, 

 which is the middle of the flower, and supposed to have resemblance 

 to the middle or body of the svm ; the ray is the border of the flower, 

 or those florets which spread out from the disk, as rays of light di- 

 verge from the sun. The florets in this, as in other compomid flowers, 



What does Syngenesia signify?— What are the characteristics of thiselass ?— How 

 are the compound flowers divided 1 — Describe these divisions— Dandelion and daiav 

 - Describe the sun-flower. 



