Structural Characteristics 131 



FLOWER. — The flower is of somewhat unusual 

 form. 



The Spathe is a large bract — a leaf-like part, or 

 several such parts, each of which is then a "valve" 

 (Fig. XX, page 130) — which enfolds the flower-bud or 

 a cluster of buds. In some species it is green; in 

 some, it is scarious (having a thin, dry and shriveled 

 appearance, in some species brownish and in others 

 silvery white); in some, partly green and partly 

 scarious; in others, in part flushed with purple and 

 in part scarious. 



The Ovary is at the base of the flower (Fig. XX, 3, 

 page 130,) and contains, in three longitudinal divisions, 

 the o-vules or rudimentary seeds. The ovary and its 



contents are more fully referred to under Process of 



Pollination in Chapter X. 



Perianth-Tube. — Above the ovary is a tube (Fig. 

 XX, 4, Page 130) called "perianth-tube," formed 

 by the uniting of the lower portions of six segments 

 or divisions which above the tube are arranged in 

 two rows of three each. (See pages 143-144.) 



The Segments are of various shapes, some of 

 which are shown in Fig. XXI. 



The upper portion (the expanded part) of each 

 segment is called the "blade" (Fig. XX, 12, 

 page (130). The lower part (the narrower) has 

 generally been called either the "claw" or the 



