266 



THE FLOWER. 



488. Unusual States of the Receptacle. The receptacle (421) is 

 commonly small, short, and inconspicuous, being merely the extrem- 

 ity of the flower-stalk upon which the sev- 

 eral organs are inserted (Fig. 343). Some- 

 times, however, it is remarkably enlarged 

 or elongated. A striking instance of an en- 

 larged receptacle is found in Nelumbium, 

 where it is dilated into a large top-shaped 

 body, nearly enclosing the pistils in sep- 

 arate cavities (Fig. 427). "Whenever the 

 pistils of a flower are very numerous, the 

 receptacle is more or less enlarged for their 

 insertion, as in Magnolia, the Raspberry and Blackberry, &c. 

 In the Strawberry the enlarged and conical 

 receptacle (Fig. 428), bearing the pistils on 

 its surface, becomes the edible portion in 

 fruit. In the Rose (Fig. 

 429) the receptacle is 

 deeply concave, instead 

 of convex, being urn- 

 shaped, invested by the 

 adnate tube of the calyx, 

 and bearing the petals 

 and stamens on its bor- 

 der and the numerous 

 pistils on its whole hol- 

 low surface (Fig. 429). 

 It is much the same in 

 Calycanthus (Fig. 814 - 

 819). In Geranium, and 

 many allied plants, the receptacle is prolonged between the ovaries, 

 and coheres with their styles (Fig. 430) ; these, however, separating 

 at maturity (Fig. 431). In Umbelliferous plants a similar but more 

 slender prolongation of the receptacle is extended upwards between 

 the contiguous faces of the two united ovaries which form the fruit 



FIG. 427. The enlarged, top-shaped receptacle of Nelumbium, bearing the pistils, im- 

 mersed in hollows of its upper face. 



FIG. 428. Longitudinal section of a young strawberry, enlarged. 



FIG. 429. Similar section of a young Rose-hip. 



FIG. 430. G3'n£Ecium of Geranium maculatum, or Cranesbill, enlarged. 



FIG. 431. The same at maturity, with the five pistils splitting away from the long beak or 

 receptacle and hanging from its top by their styles. 



