THE PISTIL. 



69 



rising from the placentas, and communicating witli the first ; which seems to 

 indicate a union between the axis and carpels. 



The flower is isogynous {fi. isogynus), when the carpels of which the pistil is 

 composed equal the sepals in number {8edum) ; — anisogynous [jl. anisogynus), when 

 the carpels are fewer in number than the sepals {Saxifrage, Snapdragon, Comfrey) ; — • 

 polygynous {fl. poly gynus), -when the carpels are more numerous than the sepals 

 {Ranunculus, Poppy). 



In pistils formed of consolidated carpels, the number of the latter is determined, 

 either by the number of styles, when these are free, or by the number of septa, or 

 by the number of placentas, which are usually in pairs, and form vertical series, or 

 fleshy protuberances. In pistils with parietal ovules {Butomus, Poppy, Gentian) the 

 number of stigmas or styles or septa must be examined. 



The two- or more ovuled ovary (whether simple or compound, free or adherent) 

 is always called many-ovuled {ov. pluriovulatum) . All 

 ovaries are supposed to be normally many-ovuled, 

 for each carpel having two placentas, and each 

 placenta being normally one- or more ovuled, it 

 follows that no ovary should have fewer than two 

 ovules. A one-ovuled ovary {ov. uniovuVatum) is hence 

 regarded as resulting from the suppression of one 

 or more ovules. The young ovary often contains two or more ovules, of which 

 all but one are subsequently suppressed, as in the Peach (fig. 899), which is always 

 two-ovuled when young; and in the Horse-chestnut and Oah, which have six 

 ovules (fig. 400). The compound ovary is usually globose or ovoid; it is lohed {ov. 

 lobatwm), when the dorsal faces of the carpels are very convex, and separated by 

 deep furrows (usually indicating the lines of junction, fig. 226), and according to 

 the number, it is hilobed, trilohed, &c. 



The carpels are not always whorled; but are sometimes arranged in a spiral, 

 when they form a! head or spike ; the receptacle at the same time lengthening into 

 a hemispheric, conical, or cylindric axis {Strawberry, fig. 401 ; , 

 Raspberry, fig. 402 ; Ficaria, fig. 403 ; Adonis, fig. 

 404). Roses (fig. 405) present a precisely reverse 

 arrangement; the carpels (ov), instead of rising 



399. Peach. 



Young ovary (mag.) 



cut transversely. 



400. Oak. 



Young ovary (mag.) 



cut transversely. 



4(11, Strawberry. 

 Flower cut vertically. 



403. Ficaria. 

 402. Easpberry. . Carpels arranged 

 Eipe pistil, out vertically. in a liead. 



405. Kose. 

 Flower cut vertically. 



from a plane or convex surface, spring from the walls of a cavity (c) ; which .will be 

 described under the torus. In this (exceptional) case, the carpels are said to be 

 parietal {ov. parietalia). 



