CHAPTER VI. 



THE FLOWER. 



I. The root stem and green leaves which have been under con- 

 sideration in the last three chapters are termed the vegetative 

 organs of the plant. Although our attention has been chiefly 

 directed to their morphology or origin, form and relationship to 

 each other, it may be remarked that the work which these 

 organs perform, for the benefit of the plant, is principally 

 concerned with the maintenance of the life of the individual 

 which bears them. 



2. Sooner or later, however, flowers arise upon the plant, the 

 special function of which is reproduction : in them seeds are 

 produced containing embryos capable of developing into a new 

 generation of plants when opportunity offers. 



Before discussing the work of the flower it is necessary to 

 become acquainted with the form and arrangement of its parts, 

 and for this purpose it is advisable to begin with the study of 

 a simple example such as a buttercup. A section through the 

 latter is given in Fig. 34. In the centre of the flower is seen a 

 stem-like axis (r) which is a continuation of \h& peduncle or flower- 

 stalk. This is the receptacle of the flower and upon it is arranged 

 a considerable number of lateral appendages of which there are 

 four distinct forms present. The lowermost of these appendages, 

 that is, those farthest away from the apex of the receptacle, are 

 yellowish-green in colour and resemble boat-shaped scales (in). 

 There are five of them free from each other and arranged in a 

 whorl : each is termed a sepal, and the whole collection or whorl 

 is known as the calyx of the flower. 

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