CHAPTER VI. 

 THE FLOWER. 



•o>»io 



1. If a leafy shoot be reduced in length, the leaves will be 

 brought close together ; if the internodes (portions of the stem 

 between the joints) are wanting entirely, the leaves will be 

 in whorls, or form a rosette. If now these leaves undergo 

 certain changes in form and function, a Flo'wer will be 

 formed. This change or modification of one part or organ 

 into another is called metamorphosis. The flower is a meta- 

 morphosed branch, and the different parts are modified leaves. 

 Proofs of this are found in the partial or complete reversion 

 of floral organs back into ordinary leaves. For example, in 

 almost any '' double " flower, as a rose, holyhock, etc., stamens 

 (the slender bodies near the centre) may be found that have 

 partly reverted to petals (the showy parts) ; often other parts 

 have become changed from their usual form, so as to resemble 

 more or less closely the ordinary foliage leaves. On the other 



Fig. 55. 



hand numerous intermediate forms may be found which ex- 

 hibit a gradual transition from foliage leaf to the most highly 



D 37 



