214 



THE FLOWER 



said to be apetalous, that is, without petals. The term 

 polypetalous is sometimes used instead of apopetalous. 



305. Apopetalous Corollas may have any number *of 

 petals, from one or two, as in the enchanter's nightshade 

 {Circcea), to the indefinite whorls of such double flowers 

 as the cactus and water lily. They may be of all shapes 

 and sizes, and sometimes present the greatest irregularities 

 of structure, as the violet, tropaeolum, larkspur, and colum- 

 bine. The commonest type of irregular corolla belonging 

 to the apopetalous group, and the only one that has received 

 a special name, is the papilionaceous corolla already de- 

 scribed, that characterizes the pea family. This may well 

 be called the reigning family of this division, since it is 

 by far the most important and numerous, containing about 

 seven thousand known species, among which are many of 

 our most useful food plants. 



420-425. — Forms of sympetalous corollas (420-422, and 425, after GRAY): 

 420, rotate corolla of nightshade; 421, salver-shaped corolla of phlox; 422, cam- 

 panulate corolla of harebell ; 423, urceolate, or urn-shaped corolla of andromeda ; 

 424, tubular corolla of spigelia; 425, funnel-shaped corolla of morning-glory. 



306. Sympetalous Corollas are of so many different forms 

 that it has been found convenient to apply special names 

 to the more important of them. A correct idea of these 

 can be gained by comparing living specimens as they are 

 found with Figures 420-425. 



