202 



THE FLOWER 



Regular, having all the parts of each set of the same 

 size and shape. 



Symmetrical, having the same number of organs, or 

 multiples of the same number in each set. 



The opposites of these terms are : imperfect, incom- 

 plete, irregular, and asymmetrical, or unsymmetrical. 



Note that regularity refers to form, symmetry to number 

 of parts, and that a flower may be perfect without being 

 complete. 



EPIGYNOUS MONOCOTYLEDONS 



Material. — Any flower of the iris or amaryllis families. Iris is used 

 in the text. Blackberry lily {Belamcanda), Atamasco lily {Zephyran- 

 ihes), snowdrop, daffodil, narcissus, etc., will make good examples. 



292. The Perianth. — Compare with the flower last ex- 

 amined, a common flag, or iris. Notice that the latter has 

 no peduncle, but is sessile in the axil of a large, membra- 

 nous bract called a spat he. Ob- 

 serve also that the lower part of 

 P/7'///'/l,\-V\^ the perianth is united into a long. 



389. — Vertical section of iris flower {after 

 Gray) : ov, ovules ; pi, placenta ; tu, tube of 

 the perianth inclosing the style; sta, stamen; 

 sH, stigma. 



narrow tube, from the top of which 



388. -Iris flower:. A spathes;., the sepals and petals extend as 



sepals +p, petals = perianth. '^ ^ 



long, curving lobes. Where the 

 parts of a perianth or of a corolla are united in this way, 

 whether throughout their whole length, as in the morning- 

 glory, or by a mere thread or rim at the base, as in the 



