SECTION 8.] MODIFICATIONS OF THE TYPE. 



95 



words, the sepals, petals, and stamens are all consolidated up to a certain 

 height. In Fig. 272, a Purslane-flower, the same parts are achate to or 

 consolidated with the ovary up to 

 its middle. In Pig. 273, a Haw- 

 thorn-flower, the consolidation has 

 extended over the whole ovary ; 

 and petals and stamens are achate 

 to the calyx still further. In Fig. 

 274, a Cranberry-blossom, it is the 

 same except that all the parts are 

 free at the same height; all seem 

 to arise from the top of the ovary. 



270. In botanical description, 

 to express tersely such differences 

 in the relation of these organs to 

 the pistil, they are said to be 



Hypogynous (i. e. under the pis- 

 til) when they are a&.free, that is, 

 not achate to pistil nor connate 

 with each other, as in Pig. 270. 



Perigynous (around the pistil) 

 when connate with each other, 

 that is, when petals and stamens 

 are inserted or borne on the calyx, 

 whether as in Cherry -flowers (Pig. 

 271) they are free from the pistil, f -^S 

 or as in Purslane and Hawthorn 

 (Fig. 872, 273) they are also ad- 

 nate below to the ovary. 



Epigynom (on the ovary) when 

 so adnate that all these parts ap- 

 pear to arise from the very summit of the ovary, as in Pig. 274. The 

 last two terms are not very definitely distinguished. 



271. Another and a simpler form of expression is to describe parts of 

 the flower as being 



Free, when not united with or inserted upon other parts. 



Distinct, when parts of the same kind are not united. This term is the 

 counterpart of coalescent, as free is the counterpart of adnate. Many 

 writers use the term " free " indiscriminately for both j but it is better to 

 distinguish them. 



Fig. 270 Flax-flower in section; the parts all free, — hypogynous. 



Fio. 271. Cherry-flower in section ; petals and stamens adnate to tube of calyx, — 

 perigynous. 



Fio. 272. Purslane-flower in section; calyx, petals, stamens, all adnate to lower 

 half of ovary, — perigynous. 



