28 LETTER II. 



{ficf. 3.), in such a way as to look like the spots in a 

 suit of hearts in playing-cards ; there are only five 

 stamens, and they arise from between the petals. The 

 centre of the little flower is occupied by a whitish 

 fleshy body, which is divided into two lobes, from the 

 top of each of which springs a style {Jig. 5.). Where 

 now is the ovary ? Is it the whitish fleshy body from 

 out of which the styles arise ? if so, young seeds must 

 be found in the inside of that part ; but if you cut 

 it, you will find neither cavity nor young seed. 



The ovary is in this plant so concealed, that a 

 beginner would not be likely to find it without assist- 

 ance. Look at the top of the flower-stalk, on the 

 outside of the petals ; you will find a thickish deep- 

 green furrowed part {jig. 5. a.), from the top of 

 which the petals and stamens spring ; and if you cut 

 that part across you will discern two little cavities, in 

 each of which hangs a young seed. This then is the 

 ovary, which in Umbelliferous plants seems placed 

 below the calyx and the corolla, on which account it 

 is called inferior, just as in the Crowfoot and Poppy 

 tribes, in which it stands above the calyx and corolla, 

 it is termed superior. 



These terms, like many others used in Botanical 

 books, were invented long since, when Botany was 

 in a rude state, and they convey an incorrect notion 

 of the true nature of the parts to which they are ap- 

 plied. I shall, therefore, digress a little, to explain 

 to you the real nature of the difference between a 

 superior and an inferior ovary. In plants, such as 

 the Crowfoot, which have a superior ovary, the 



