MALVACE^ 513 



scarcely lobed. The calyx lobes often vary in size. There 

 may be two large lobes, two small ones, and one intermediate 

 in size. Floral nectaries appear at the base of the calyx on 

 the inner side. 



" Iniracalicary Organs." — These sometimes occur in the 

 cotton flower. They are a series of small greenish organs 

 between the calyx and corolla. There are five of these 

 structures, but often some of them are so small as to be visible 

 only by use of the hand lens. They are attached to the 

 calyx, and alternate with its lobes. Cook and Meade regard 

 them as "supernumerary calyx lobes or as representing free 

 stipular elements of the calyx lobes." 



Corolla. — This is hypogynous. There are five petals, often 

 united at the base, and attached to the lower part of the 

 stamen tube. They are usually yellow or red in color. In 

 G. barbadense the petals are yellow or sulphur-colored, with a 

 purple spot on the claw. The petals are convolute in the 

 bud, 



Stamens. — These are monodelphous in cotton. There are 

 often as many as 80 or 90 stamens, all inserted on a tubular 

 staminal column, which encloses the pistil. The column is 

 dilated at the base and narrowed above. There are five 

 vertical ridges on the staminal column, each of which gives 

 rise to a number of filaments. The column is regarded as 

 being made up of the united filaments of the stamens. The 

 filaments are thread-like and exserted. The anthers are ope- 

 celled, and each is dehiscent into two halves, by a semicircular 

 opening. 



Ovary (Fig. 213). — This has three to five cells or "locks." 

 As a rule, the style is long, thus bringing the stigmas above 

 the stamens. In Upland varieties, however, the style is 

 usually shorter than the stamens. There are as many 

 stigmas as there are cells in the ovary. 

 33 



