A COMPOSITE FLOWER. 



45 



invariably single, it is inferred from the two-lobed stigma 

 that there are two carpels. The following is the schedule: 



DANDELION. 



62. Flowers constructed on the plan of the Dandelion 

 are called Composite flowers. The Order (Compositse) 

 comprises an immense number of common plants, in 

 some of which all the corollas in the head are, as in the 

 Dandelion, of, one sort, namely, with one side prolonged 

 into a strap, and hence called strap-shaped or ligulate. 

 In most cases, however, the ligulate corollas form a circle 

 rotind the margin of the head only, as in Sunflower, 

 while the central disk is filled up with small regular 

 gamopetalous corollas with a five-toothed border. Or it 

 may happen, as in Thistle, that all the flowers are regu- 

 lar, ligulate corollas being absent. These, however, are 

 minor-points, and, while serving to distinguish subor- 

 dinate groups, do not interfere with the great and salient 

 characters which mark the Ordoi as a whol^. go, also, 



