38 



ELEMENTARY BOTANY. 



modified organ (pistil). The flower of the Water-Lily is a 

 partial illustration (Fig. 55). 



There can be no lack of easily obtained material for direct study of what 

 is outlined in the following paragraphs. The order in which the several 

 topics of the chapter are given need not be scrupulously followed in the prac- 

 tical work of the class-room ; though all of them should be brought out by 

 a study of abundant and suitable material before the text is assigned for class 

 recitation, or review. The note-book should be daily used, the lens called 

 into requisition when desirable, and drawings made directly from the speci- 

 mens to illustrate all the structures that beginners should see. The advan- 

 tage of preserving illustrative specimens can here, as elsewhere, be seen. 



2. The stem or stalk, which supports a fiower-cluster or a 

 solitary flower, is called the peduncle. If the peduncle is 

 wanting, the flower is inserted directly on the stem, and is 

 said to be sessile. When the peduncle arises from the ground 

 it is called a scape. The minute branches of the peduncle, 

 or slender stalks which support the individual flowers, are 

 called pedicels. The bracts are generally diminutive leaves 

 which subtend the flower-cluster, or from whose axil the 

 flower-stem proceeds. When a single enlarged bract encloses 

 the flower-cluster, it is called a spathe (Fig. 66). If the bracts 

 are numerous and form a conspicuous cup under the flowers, 



Iilvohtcre... 



Fig. 56. 



Receptacle 



or an imbricated covering around a head of flowers, they form 

 an involucre (Fig. 57). The term receptacle (Fig. 57) is ap- 



