154 COMPOUND ORGANS OP PLANTS. 



style; the plurality of styles and stigmas therefore necessa- 

 rily proves a plurality of pistils. 



In general the carpels contract no adhesion with the floral 

 envelopes. They are simply attached to the receptacle, so that 

 when they grow and elevate themselves they remain perfectly 

 intact. We say in this case that the ovary is free and superior, 

 being situated above the floral envelopes, and that the stamens 

 are perigynous (jtspi around, and yu^'^ pistil.) But sometimes 

 the calyx grows to the surface of the ovary carrying with it 

 the petals and stamens, so that all these organs seem to rise as 

 it were out of the summit of the ovary, as in the honeysuckle 

 and dog-wood. The ovary in this instance is inferior, as it is 

 situated below the floral envelopes, and the stamens epigy- 

 nous (irtt upon, ymri pistil.) This distinction between the infe- 

 rior and superior ovary is very important, as it serves to 

 distinguish certain natural families. 



The Style. — The general character of the style in simple 

 ovaries has been already described. In compound ovaries there 

 are as many styles as there are carpels ; and they either remain 

 distinct, as in the pink, or become partially united, as in the 

 geranium, or completely consolidated to their summit, as in the 

 lily. 



When we examine a transverse section of the style with a 

 sufficient magnifying power, we always find it hollow. The 

 interior of the style is in fact a canal, extending from the 

 stigma to the cavity of the ovary. This canal is sometimes 

 open ; but generally it is filled with a humid and lax paren- 

 chyma, which diiFers considerably from the other parenchyma 

 of the style, and which is distinguished as the conducting 

 tissue. This tissue spread out on the summit of the style 



rms that spongy surface called, — 



