THE FLOWER. 153 
absolute number of cells in a pluri-locular ovary is. subject to varia- 
tion, but is generally three, then comes the number two and five, 
but very rarely four. This number, besides, is not always the 
same in the different ages of the flower; it sometimes happens 
that they are multiplied by the formation of partitions, afterwards 
further developed, as in the Vervains and the Ladiatee, which, at 
first, have only two cells, but later show four, by the partition 
of each of the primitive cells into two compartments. This is 
also seen in the Flax-plants, the five primitive cells of which 
divide at a given time into two, by a partition of new formation. 
+ These supplementary partitions which thus mask the first structure 
of the ovary, are called spurious dissepiments. 
The ovary is usually apparent or free, and perceptible by look- 
ing into the bottom of the flower; it is then 
called a superior ovary, as in the Poppy (Fig. 
216) and Lily. At other times only the sum- 
mit of the ovary shows itself at the bottom of 
the flower, and it is united with the receptacle, 
and must be looked for underneath the flower ; 
the ovary is then called inferior or adherent, as 
in the Coffee-plant, Madder (Fig. 217), and 
Melon-plants. 
We have stated above that the small bodies 
attached to the placenta are called ovules, and 8 18;,Drary of the 
that afterwards they become seeds. These 
ovules are composed of a small central body or nucleus, adhering 
by its base to a double sac, showing only a very small aperture 
corresponding to the free summit of the nucleus. The 
external sac is called primine, and the internal sac 
secundine. The aperture of this double envelope is the 
microphyle. The point of adhesion of the nucleus with 
“its integuments is called the chalaza. Some ovules have 
no primine, and some have neither primine nor secundine. 
But these cases are rare. The point at which the 
ovules are attached to the placenta, either directly or in- : 
directly by means of a small thread or Juniculus, bears jig 275, 
the name of hilum. Mader Boot 
Ovules are not all of the same form. The ovule of Rhubarb 
