118 . FAMILIAR LESSONS IN BOTANY. 



gins meet and adhere, forming in this way a tube or pod. 

 This is the (4) ovary, Now the inner surface of the ovary 

 answers to the upper surface of the leaf, while the outer 

 surface is the lower surface of the leaf. The united sur- 

 face of the leaf bears the (5) ovules. The summit or apex 

 of the leaf prolonged into a thread-like summit makes the 

 style; while the edges of the leaf turned outward, either 

 at the apex or along the edges of the style, form the 

 stigma. The style, you will at once perceive, answers to 

 the midrib of the leaf 



The seam made by the union of the margin of the leaves 

 is called the (6) ventral (or inner) suture (seam), while 

 that of the midrib, or opposite line, is called the (7) dorsal 

 (or outer) suture. Now you liave the ovary, the style, and 

 the stigma. 



You have already been told that the ovary contains the 

 ovules, which when fertilized and developed become the 

 seed. The line which supports the ovules is called the 



(8) placeiita; this is usually rather thicker than the sur- 

 rounding parts, being frequently a cellular growth from 

 the inner suture; and as it is a growth from each margin 

 of the leaf, it consists of two parts, and this accounts, for 

 the fact of the ovules being often found occupying two 

 longitudinal rows in a simple pistil, as in the pea. A 

 single pistil can have only one style and one stigma; but 

 can have, and most generally does have, a double row of 

 ovules. When a pistil is thus distinct, it is said to be 



(9) apocarjjous. When there are several pistils united, they 

 are (10) syncarpous. 



The carpels do not always effect their junction in the 

 same way. It may either be by the ovaries alone, or by 

 the ovaries, styles, and stigmas, or by the stigmas alone. 

 When the styles are united, there is found a style which 

 in appearance is single, but, in reality, is a compound 

 of as many partial styles as there are carpels. When the 

 carpels are united by means of the ovaries, an ovaiy is 



