288 THE FLOWER. 



the sepals will be anterior, one posterior, and two lateral, or right 

 and left ; as in the annexed diagram of a Cruciferous blossom (Fig. 

 356) ; while the petals, alternating with the sepals, consist of an 

 anterior and a posterior pair ; and the stamens, again, stand before 

 the sepals. An axillary flower of five parts will have either one 

 sepal superior or posterior and two inferior or anterior (as in Rhus, 

 Fig. 357), or else, vice versa, one inferior and two superior, as in 

 Papilionaceous flowers (Fig. 358) : in both cases the two remaining 

 sepals are lateral. The petals will consequently stand one superior, 

 two inferior, and two lateral, in the last-named case; and one in- 

 ferior, two superior, and two lateral, in the former. In terminal 

 flowers (401), the position of parts in respect to the uppennost 

 leaves or bracts should be noted. 



Sect. IV. The Various Modifications op the Flower. 



445. The complete and symmetrical flowers, with all their organs 

 in the most normal state, that have now been considered, will serve 

 as the type or pattern, with which we may compare the ahnost num- 

 berless variety of forms which blossoms exhibit, and note the char- 

 acter of the differences observed. We proceed upon the supposi- 

 tion, that all flowers are formed upon a common plan, — a plan 

 essentially the same as that of the stem or branch, of which the 

 flower is a modified continuation, — so that in the flower we are to 

 expect no organs other than those that, whatever their fomi and 

 office, answer either to the axis or to the leaves ; so that the differ- 

 ences between one flower and another are to be explained as cir- 

 cumstantial variations of one fundamental jjlan, — variations for the 

 most part analogous to those which occur in the organs of vegeta- 

 tion themselves. Having assumed the type which represents our 

 conception of the most complete, and at the same time the simplest 

 flower, we apply it to all the cases which present themselves, and 

 especially to those blossoms in which the structure and symmetry 

 are masked or obscured ; where, like the disenchanting spear of 

 Ithuriel, its application at once reveals the real character of the most 

 disguised and complicated forms of structure. 



446. Our pattern flower consists of four circles, one of each kind of 

 floral organ, and of an equal number of parts, successively alternat- 

 ing with one another. It is complete, having both calyx and corolla. 



