THE FLAN OF THE FLOWER. 



as 



5. Redundancies, 



a, In the multiplication of organs, 



b, In appendicular organs. 

 4. Union of parts. 



a. By cohesions, 

 6, By adhesions; 

 .5. Irregularities -of development^ 

 a, In homogeneous parts, . . 

 6, In the receptacle. 



6. Combined deviations. 



We ahaB consider these several topics in their order. 



418. The EiDioAL number of the floweb ia that which enumerates the parts 

 composing each whorl. It varies from one to twenty, and. is expressed thus : 

 V, Vi V, V, etc., which mathematical expressions are to be read by the words, 

 dimerous (Jjf, two, /ilpoc, part), or ,2-parted ; trimerous, or 3-parted ; 4-merous, or 

 4rparted ; pentameroua, or 5-parted ; G-meroua, or 6-parted, etc. 



419. ExoGENS AND ENDOQENS DiSTiNaniSHED. Pentamerous (V) flowers, like 

 the rose, flax, when each whorl is (naturally) 5-parted, are , -more generally charac- 

 teristic of the exogenous plants, V flowers of the endogens, as the lily, Trillium. 

 The flowers of Fuchsia are V, of Circaea V, and of Hippuria 1 ♦^• 



420. Deficiencies. Incomplete flowers often occur. They lack some one or 

 more entire sets of organs. When only one of the floral envelops, the caly:x:, ex- 

 ists, the flower ia said to be apetalous or monochamydeaus (xTin/zvc, a cloak), as in 

 elm, Phytolacca. These terms are also loosely applied to such plants as rhubarb, 

 Anemone, liverwort, where the pieces of the perianth are all similar, although in two 

 or three whorls. When the perianth ia wholly wanting, the flower is said to be 

 fKhiamydeous or naked, as in lizard-taiL (264.) 



267 266 265 264 



864, Flower of Saururas (lizard-tail) ; aohlymydeons. 265, Flower of Froxinus (ash). 266, 

 Flower of Salix (willow), staminate. 267, pistillate. 



421. Imperfect flowers are also of frequent occurrence. They are deficient in 

 respect to the essential organs. A sterik or staminate flower (denoted thus $) has 

 stamens without pistila A fertile or pistillate flower ( 9 ) has pistils without sta- 

 mens. Such flowers being counterparts of each other, and both necessary to the 

 perfection of the seed, must exist e'ither together upon the same plant or upon sep- 

 arate plants of the same species. In the former case the species is monoecious {8 ) 

 as in oak ; in the latter case direoious (J s ) as in willow. Tho term diclinous, do- 

 noting either § or J ? without distinction, is in common use. 



