150 MANUAL OF BOTAN"S 



Orange and Eue {fig. 282), it forms a fleshy ring surrounding 

 the base of the pistil ; in the Tree Paeony {fig. 283), it occurs as 

 a dark red cup-shaped expansion covering nearly the whole of 

 the pistil except the stigmas ; in the Cherry {fig. 271), it forms a 

 sort of waxy lining to the tube of the calyx. In other cases the 

 disc is reduced to little separate glandular bodies, as in some Cru- 

 ciferous plants ; or to scales, as in the Stonecrop {fig. 284) and 

 Vine {fig. 344) ; or to various petaloid expansions, as in the 

 Columbine. 



A peculiar swelling upon the summit of the inferior ovaries of 

 the flower of the natural order Umbellifers is also generally 

 referred to as a variety of the disc, though it is above instead of 



Fig. 283. Fig. 284. 



FUj. 283. Pistil of the Tree Pteony {Pwonia Jfoii/a/i or Moutan qffinnaUs) 



invested by a large cup-slmped expansion or disc. Fig. 284. Pistil of 



Stonecrop (.SijfiMTn), consisting of five distinct carpels, on the outside of 

 each of which at the base a small scaly body may be noticed. The pistil 

 is compound and apocarpous. 



below the gynoecium. It forms a conical swelling which sur- 

 rounds and adheres to the bases of the two divaricating styles. 

 On this account it is sometimes called a stylopodium. 



The disc is termed hypogynous, perigynous, or epigynous, 

 according to its position with reference to the ovary. 



(2) THE WHOBLS OF PERIANTH LEAVES. 



a. The Calyx. 



The calyx is the outermost envelope of the flower, and is 

 composed of two or more leafy members called sepals. These 

 .sepals are usually green like the foliage leaves, by which cha- 

 racter they may, in most cases, be distinguished from the 

 petals, as well as by the position and more delicate texture of 

 the latter. There are numerous instances, however, especially 



