10 PRAGTIGAL BOTANY. 



36. The Eeceptade is the axis of the flower, to which 

 the floral organs are attached in a constant succession — 

 namely, the calyx at its very, base, forming the outermost 

 set ; the corolla just within (or above) the calyx ; the sta- 

 mens just within the corolla, and the (one or several) pis- 

 tils within (or above) the stamens, occupying the centre of 

 the flower. 



The receptacle, usually short and inconspicuous, is some- 

 times considerably enlarged or elongated. Whenever the 

 pistils are very numerous, the receptacle increases in size 

 or modifies its shape, to give room for their insertion. In 

 the Strawberry it assumes a conical form, bearing the pistils 

 on its surface, and becoming at length the eatable part of 

 the fruit, botanically considered a spurious fruit. In the 

 flower of the Hose the receptacle is deeply excavated or 

 urn-shaped, and invested by the adnate calyx-tube, while 

 its cavity is lined by the pistils. (PI. T., 5.) 



37. As regards the essential (absolutely necessary) or- 

 gans, we divide the flowers into Perfect and Imperfect. 

 But each of these sorts presents important differences in 

 reference to the unessential organs also. 



a. Flowers, which have both kinds of essential organs, 

 stamens and pistils, are called Perfect or Hermaphrodite 

 flowers, whether they are furnished with a perianth or not. 

 (PI. XII., 2a, 5.) 



h. Flowers, in which one set (the corolla) of the perianth 

 is wanting, are Incoinplete flowers ; such floM'ers may be 

 perfect. (PI. XII., 6.) 



c. Flowers which have both essential and unessential 

 organs— namely, a complete perianth (calyx and corolla) 

 and stamens, as well as pistils — are not only perfect, but 

 also complete ; we call them, therefore, Conmlete floioers. 

 (PI. 111., 1, 1, 4, 6.) 



