152 liJSSSOIfS WITS PLANTS 



the other parts are superior. It is better, how- 

 ever, to speak in terms of the ovary; and there 

 are three grades of insertion of the parts recog- 

 nized in botanical writings. When all the parts 

 are free, the flower is said to be hypogynous 

 (parts inserted below the pistil), as in the mus- 

 tard and hepatica. When the stamens and petals 

 are borne on the calyx, and the calyx is wholly 

 or partly free from the pistil, the flower is perigy- 

 nous (parts inserted around the pistil, but not upon 

 it nor upon the receptacle.) The plum and cherry 

 (Fig. 144) have, been considered to be typical exam- 

 ples of perigynous flowers, but many botanists now 

 hold that the cup of the flower is a hollow recep- 

 tacle and not a calyx- tube, and that the sepals, 

 petals and stamens are borne upon the receptacle- 

 rim. When all the parts seem to rise from the 

 top of the ovary itself, the flower is epigynous 

 (parts on the pistil). 



Suggestions. — Notice begonias, fuchsias, carnations, buttercups, 

 potatoes, currants, pinks, lilies, blue-flags or irises, narcissuses, and 

 pumpkins or squashes. 



XXVIII. REINFORCED FLOWERS 



171. A section of a carnation flower is shown in 

 Fig. 152. The notched corolla is prominent at the 

 top, and the calyx is at 6, but there are other 



