THE FLOWER. ° 135 
the defective expressions, strap- -shaped, scalloped, lobed, dentated, 
&c., by which the free parts of the leaflets of the calyx joined in 
one whole have been described. 
The intersections, in fact, do not reach from top to bottom. 
When a calyx begins to show itself, its elements, ‘| 
the sepals, are always free. In a polysepalous calyx 
they remain isolated until fully developed, but if the 
calyx is monosepalous, they are supported up to a 
certain point by a sort of belt. 
Without dwelling here on the different shapes the 
sepals assume, we will content ourselves with statin 
that these organs become indistinguishable in the Valerians (Fig. 
162) and Groundsel (Fig. 163), and a host of other similar plants. 
They appear in these plants like a bunch of silk or hair 
called a tuft, and if we did not arrive at, this curious 
modification by a series of appropriate examples, it would 
be very difficult to ascribe to the sepals their real origin. 
The number of sepals in a calyx is extremely variable. 
There are two in the Celandine, three in, the Virginian 
Spider-wort, four in the Willow-herb, five in the Helle- 
bore, six in the Barberry, and a considerably eee Moniaepa 
number in the Cacti. 
Fig. oo ser of 
With regard to their arrangement on the receptacle, the sepals 
are sometimes in a whorl (or verticil), that is, several placed at 
ee 161. ip rag Fig. 162,—Tufted Calyx of Valerian. Fig. 163.—Tufted Calyx of 
of Linum, Groundsel. 
the same level, if the receptacle is conical, or at an equal distance 
m the centre, if the receptacle is flat; some are disposed 
