PLAN OF THE FLOWER. 



65 



mint, while five-parted, the flowers have generally but four 

 stamens; but on close observation we often find a small 

 rudiment of the fifth stamen in its proper place, as if its 

 growth had ieen early stopped. And in Monarda and Catal- 

 pa, only two stamens grow up to maturity, while three are 

 mere rudiments (Fig. 202). Nevertheless, such flowers are 

 said to be unsymmetrical. So the flowers of the Mustard 

 tribe. The stamens are in two rows of four in each ; but of 

 the outer row (or circle) two were checked in growth (or 

 suppressed, as the botanists say) at the outset. (See Fig. 97.) 

 The tendency to symmetry is manifest in all these cases. 



117. We must carefully distinguish between the terms 

 unsymmetrical and irregular. The former refers to number 



only, the latter to form and size 



(Less. XIV.). The Mustard 

 flower is unsymmetrical, but 

 not irregular. The Orchis is 

 irregular, but not unsymmet- 

 rical. Snap-dragon is both 

 irregular and unsymmetrical. 



k h g f e d 

 Fig. 198. Nymphaja odorata. 

 Fig. 199. Petals gradually passing into stamens. 



118. Here is a figure of the Water Lily (198), and a 

 separate view of its sepals, petals, and stamens. Observe 



117. What difference between unsymmetrical and irregular ? Examples. 



