42 



FAMILIAR LESSONS IIT BOTANY. 



Fio. 54. 



the union of the sepals is called the tube. The divisions 

 of the upper margin we call Umhs. In this cut, a is the 

 tube, h the limb. If the calyx takes its rise be- 

 |W^ low the ovary or seed-vessel, it is said to be infe- 

 1 rior ; if above, siqyerior. These distinctions, 

 however, are merely nominal, for the origin is in 

 all cases the same, beneath. But in some plants 

 the calyx adheres to the ovary, uniting with it 

 so as to become a part of it, as the liaw, apple, etc. 



90. You have now been told that the calyx is the cover- 

 ing of the flower, that it is generally green and leaf-like, 

 that it may be monosepalous, that its divisions are called 

 sepals, and that it may be inferior or superior. It falls off 

 in some cases as soon as the flower expands ; it is then said 

 to be caducous. The calyx of the magnolia is caducous. 

 If it remains as long as the corolla it is cleciduoiis. The 

 virgin-bower has this kind of calyx. If it remains until 

 the seed is perfect it is said to be j^ersistejit. The rose has 

 a persistent calyx. 



91. There are several kinds of calyx. Linnneus divides 

 them into seven classes: i\iQ anient yCaly2)t7Yt, glume yinvo- 



hicncm, 2^eria7ith, spatha, and volva. 



Amekt, or catkin, consists of chaffy 

 scales on a thread-like stalk. Each 

 scale is the receptacle of stamens and 

 pistils, and we call the whole aggregate 

 a flower, and consequently it is classed as 

 a mode of inflorescence, as in cotton- 

 wood and banana. 



92. Calyptra (from the Greek, 

 to cover or conceal) is the name 

 given to the little hood or cap 



Fig. 55. 



that covers the pistil of the 



Fig. 56. 



90. State the period of the falling of the sepals, and the names given to each. 



9 1 . How many kinds of calyx did Liunjeus arrange ? Their names ? Describe 

 the ament. 



92. What of calyptra? 



