64 THE PHENOMENON OF 



the cataphyllar}' -leaves chiefly by the narrowness of the 

 base, more dehcate structure, and more rapid formation 

 and decay. 



4. Formation of the calicine-leaves {sepals). These 

 form the first proper envelope of the flower, and are 

 again thicker, tougher, and greener than the upper-leaves, 

 mostly have a broader base, little or no laminar expansion, 

 no stalk-formation, and are either simple or but slightly 

 divided.* They are mostly more enduring than the 

 succeeding formations of the flower, they often outlive 

 these, and frequently take part in the formation of the 

 fruit. 



B. Formation of the coroZ/fMe-Zeawes (petals), strikingly 

 characterised by delicacy of texture, beauty and variety 

 of colour, with the exclusion, however, of green. As a 

 rule, they are longer than the sepals, but have a 

 narrower base ; mostly exhibit an extensive laminar por- 

 tion but no distinct stalk-structure, often radiant or 

 forked, but very rarely pinnate, division. f Excrescent 

 growths doubling the limb or laminar structure {emer- 

 gences) sometimes occur upon the surface of the petal, 

 as in Narcissus, Nerium, Lychnis, or longitudinal wing- 

 like edges, as in Saponaria, Agrostemma, and the Hydro- 

 phyllacese. 



6. Formation of the pollen-leaves (stamens), com- 

 prising the smallest and thickest leaves of the flower, 

 characterised by distinct stalk-formation {filament) from 

 the narrowest base, with a box-hke expansion of the 

 lateral halves of the little developed blade {anther). 

 Folding over of the blade ( TJeberspreitung), which occurs 

 but rarely in the petals, is here almost an universal rule, 

 whereby the chambers of the anther become doubled on 

 each side. They are distinguished above all the other 

 parts of the flower by the most rapid completion of the 



* Sepals with pinnse {Rosa), with stipules {Peganum), or with a ligule- 

 structure {Mesembri/anthemum), are rare exceptions. 



f Ex. gr. Schizopetalum. Drummondia. 



