ANGIOSPERMS 223 
however, the petals appear to be united so that the corolla 
becomes a cup, urn, tube, funnel, or the like (Figs. 208 
and 209). This condition of the corolla is so constant in 
the highest group of Angiosperms that the group is called 
the Sympetale, because the corollas are sympetalous (petals 
together). 
In many flowers with sympetalous corollas there is an 
irregular development, so that the mouth of the tube, 
Fie. 209.—Sympetalous flowers: A, bluebell; B, phlox; C, dead-nettle; D, snap- 
dragon; £, toadflax.—After Gray. 
instead of being regular, is divided into two unequal lips, 
as in the mints and many others (Fig. 209, C—E). Such 
flowers are said to be bilabiate (two-lipped), and on this 
account the Mint Family is named Labiate. Such corollas 
may have further irregularities in the form of more or 
less conspicuous projections at the base called spurs (Fig. 
209, #). It must not be supposed that irregular growths 
are found only in connection with sympetalous corollas; 
for the sweet pea represents a great family in which the 
petals are all separate, and yet they are very much unlike; 
and in the violet, whose petals are distinct, one of them 
has a conspicuous spur. 
The corolla is useful in protecting the young stamens 
and carpels, but it is also associated with the visits of 
insects, a subject which will be spoken of later. _ 
