246 ESSENTIAL ORGANS — THE STYLE. 



T^e dorsal suture may be marked by a slight projection, or by a 

 superficial groove. 



The ovary, as a rule, is free, in the centre of the flower, and not 

 adherent to any of the surrounding organs. It is then termed supenor, 

 as in Lychnis, Primula, and Geranium (fig. 338). In many cases, 

 however, it is \mited with surrounding parts, — ^most usually with the 

 torus (receptacle), which, being prolonged into a cup-shaped expansion, 

 becomes adherent to the ovary, and the floral whorls (calyx, corolla, 

 stamens), proceeding from it are thus carried upwards, and rise from 

 a plane, level with the summit of the ovary,- — which is thus beneath 

 their point of origin, and is therefore inferior, whilst they are superior. 

 This is well seen in Rose, Almond (fig. 339), Aralia (fig. 340), Melon 

 (fig. 430), Pomegranate, Apple, Pear, Gooseberry, and Fuchsia 

 (fig. 433). A transverse section of the ovary of Fuchsia (figs. 418, 

 433) shows several closed loculaments containing ovules ; while 

 the pistil of the Rose when cut vertically exhibits a receptacTilar cup 

 or hollow torus, open at the top, and covering numerous' separate 

 carpels, arranged on its concave surface, each of the carpels consisting 

 of ovary, style, and stigma (fig. 294, p. 196). In these examples the 

 torus is adherent to the ovary throughout its entire extent ; but in 

 some plants, as Saxifragacese (figs. 431, 432), the union is only par- 

 tial, and the term half inferior is applied to the ovary, whilst the 

 floral whorls are half superior. 



These appearances were formerly explained by supposing an 

 adhesion between the calyx tube of the ovary ; and the term adherent 

 was applied to the calyx in cases where the ovary is inferior, and 

 the corolla and stamens were considered to be attached to and carried 

 upwards by the adherent calyx. But this view has been superseded 

 by the one already explained. These adhesions between the torus 

 and the ovary will be found to be of importance, as determining the 

 epigynous and perigynous condition of the stamens. 



The Style proceeds from the summit of the carpel, and may be 

 looked upon as a prolongation of it in an 

 upward direction (fig. 406 t). It is hence 

 called apicilar (apex, top). It consists not 

 merely of the midrib, but of the vascular 

 and cellular tissue of the carpel, along 

 with a continuation of the placenta con- 

 stituting what is called conducting tissue. 

 Fig. 435. which ends in the stigma. In some cases 

 the carpellary leaf is folded from above downwards, in a hooded 



Fig. 434. Carpel of Strawberry, o, Ovary, t. Style arising from near the base, and 

 becoming basilar by the mode in which the ovary is developed ; the style, however, still 

 Indicating the organic apex of the ovyry. Fig. 435. Carpel of Chrysobalanus Tcaco. o. 

 Ovary. (, Basilar style, s. Stigma. 



