150 



COMPOUND ORGANS OF PLANTS. 



occupied by a green leaf, somewhat folded together, and similar 

 to the leaves of the branches, except in its lesser size. If we 

 compare this leaf, with the perfect pistil of the cherry, we 

 shall see that the folded lamina answers to the ovary, the 

 midrib projecting beyond the ovary to the style, and its 

 slightly dilated apex to the stigma. The analogy of carpels to 

 leaves may also be deduced from their similarity in texture 

 and venation, and from the situation of the ovules, which 

 exactly corresponds to that of the germs or buds found on 

 the margin of some leaves, as on those of Bryophyllum caly- 

 cinum. 



Fig. 54. 



The modified leaves or carpels forming the gymnsecium, 

 cohere together to a greater or less extent, like the parts of 

 the flower ; and all degrees of union amongst them may be ob- 

 served from the mere cohesion of the contiguous bases of their 

 ovaries, (Fig. 54, a) to their perfect consolidation whilst their 

 styles are distinct, h. In other species, both the ovaries and 

 styles of the carpels are consolidated, and the whole gymnoe- 

 cium forms an unique body, which may be mistaken for a single 

 pistil, c. But single pistils are by no means so common as is 

 usually supposed. If we make a transverse section of the ovary 



