METHOD OF EXAMINATION 71 



Monocarpellary, or Simple Pistil (Figs. 219 and 220), and that ordinarily 

 the carpels alternate with the stamens of the adjacent circle. The parts 

 of the pistil have been defined, and it has been shown that of these the 

 ^tipe or thecaphore is rarely present, and that the style is very fre- 

 quently absent, resulting in the Sessile Stigma. The different forms of 

 adhesion and its effects, as well as those of suppression and metamor- 

 phosis, have also been explained. Some additional facts of a general 

 nature must be considered before taking up the details of this subject. 

 Method of Examination. — The student should from the outset resist 

 the temptation to seek the characters of the gynaecium in the mature 

 or immature fruit, because of its more convenient size. While many 

 of the characters of the gynaecium are permanent, there are others 

 which disappear after the fertilization of the ovules, and still others 

 which only then make their appearance. The other parts of the flower 

 should be completely stripped off, this operation being performed under 

 close and continuous scrutiny, with the idea of detecting any character- 

 istics of relationship between them and the gynaecium. The latter 

 should then be carefully examined in situ. An implement should be 

 passed down between the carpels to determine what degree of cohesion, 

 if any, exists between them, for this will occasionally be found at the 

 very base only, and also to determine if there be any adhesion to a 

 central prolongation of the torus. The details of attachment to the 

 torus must also be determined and their arrangement considered. 

 When numerous, the pistils are apt to assume the spiral arrangement, 

 which has already been noticed in referring to the position of floral 

 parts in general. When solitary, the carpel assumes a position to one 

 side of the axis, thus demonstrating its isolation through the suppres- 

 sion of the complementary parts of the circle. A lack of uniformity, 

 as indicating abortion of one or more carpels, must be looked for. 

 When all are uniformly aborted, in the case of flowers which are herma- 

 phrodite but imperfect, this fact will sometimes escape detection unless 

 both forms of flower are examined. The color, texture, and surface of 

 the carpels call for minute examination in all cases, though there are 

 no peculiarities of a general nature differing from those of the other 

 organs. As in the case of the petals, so in that of the carpels, the general 

 form is determined by that of the fohage leaves; but the form is less 

 closely preserved and the homology is far less apparent here than there, 

 owing to the far more profound modifications which are rendered 

 necessary by the peculiar functions of the carpels, a consideration which 

 will further on be seen to apply with special force to the fruiting stage. 



