THE FLOWER. 



Ill 



is so called because its androeoium resembles a hand with long, pointed 

 finger-nails. 



240. Tfie Passion-flowers get their botanical as well as their common 

 name from the fancied resemblance the, various organs bear to the im- 

 plements of Christ's Passion (Fig.- 155). The 3-lobed leaf is a symbol 

 of the Trinity, of which Christ is the Central Person ; the tendrils 

 are the cords with which He was bound ; the five horned sepals (A, s) 

 are the crown of thorns ; the five lavender-colored petals (A, jo) are the 

 purple robe ; the stipe or stalk on which the ovary (o) is raised, and 

 which passes through the staminal tube (A, st), is the pillar at which He 

 was scourged ; the five free upper parts of the stamens, with their large 

 anthers (a), are the hammers which drove the nails that transfixed 

 Him to the cross ; the three stigmas (b) are the nails ; the ovary (o) is 

 the sponge ; the lovely corona of fringe-like threads (/) is the crown 

 of glory with which Christian art encircles His head. The stipe of 

 the ovary persists in the ripe fruit as a short stalk arising from the 

 cup of the calyx (Fig. 155, C, c). 



241. Often the fruit takes part in this mimic show. The woody 

 pods Of the great 

 Mo n k ey-pot-ivees 

 of South America 

 resemble iron pots 

 with lids (Fig. 

 156); the lid is 

 formed by the disk ; 

 the star-shaped or- 

 nament on its top 

 is the sessile stigma. 

 The greatest skill 

 and patience are 

 necessary to detach 

 this lid. Monkeys 

 particularly like 

 the creamy nuts 

 inside ; they re- 

 move the lids with 

 admirable dexter- 

 ity, yet with a sort 

 of patient impa- 

 tience which is ex- 

 tremely amusing. 

 The Cannon-ball- 

 trees, in the same 

 Order (which in- 

 cludes the Brazil- 

 nut- and Cream-nut-trees), get this common name not only from the 

 large, heavy pot, but from the noise it makes when it falls, — from a 

 height of 80 to 150 feet, — bursting with an explosion like that of artil- 

 lery. The Monkey-pots serve various purposes as household utensils, 

 — soup-pots, tureens, vases, work-boxes, etc. 



Job's-Tears, Hedgehog, Shepherd' s-Purse, are familiar names sug- 

 gested by other mimicries in the fruits. The Hazel-nut gets its name 



,r 



Fig. 156. — Monkey-pot (Lecytfiia ollaria). 



