introduction' 



The Flower is a branch bearing feaves modified so as to 

 assist in the i reduction i-'f seed, and generally crowded together 

 on the expanded a- ex of the pedicel, or flower-stalk, which is 

 termed the racf-f.u-'e or fhaLtmus. As inuch of the classification 

 of plants is based upon the characters of the flijwer, a knowledge 

 of its structure is i. 'dispensable to the student. A typical flower 

 has four kinds of floral leaves, sepals, petals, stamens, and earpels. 

 The sepals collectively form the ea/i'x (Greek for a cup), and the 

 petals constitute the coroHa ("little cro\\n"). The calyx and 

 corolla together are called the peiiaillh (Greek peri-, round, 

 aJitJws, a flower\ or floral envelopes whilst the stamens and 

 carpels are called the essential organs, because seed cannot be 

 formed if they are absent. If both calvxand corolla are present in 

 the same flower, as in the Buttercup, in which flower the five 



Section of a flo^ver. ^ 



sepals are green and the petals golden, the flower is termed 

 conpietc : but if one uf these envelopes is absent, as in the Marsh- 

 marigold, the flower is incomplete, hi'omplete Jloivers are tiwiio- 

 chlainydcous (Greek iiuinus, one, chlamys, a cloak) if, as in this 

 case, they have one envelope ; achlamvaeous if, as in the Ash, they 

 have neither calyx nor corolla. If bpth stamens and carpels 

 occur in the same flower it is termed pe'rfect i if only one class of 

 essential organs is present the flower is iinpcrfeet, and staminate or 

 larpellate as the case may be. Plants with imperfect flowers may 

 either be monoecious (Greek monos, one, i>ikos, a house), where, as 

 in the Hazel, the staminate and carpcUate flowers are on the same 

 plant; or clio-ciuiis, wlicre, as in Willows and Poplars, they are on 

 different individuals. Where neither stamens nor carpels are 

 present, as in the outer florets of the blue Cornflower, or the outer 

 flowers in the cluster of the Guelder liose, the flower is neuter. 



