VARIATIONS IN STRUCTURE 



293 



both definite and indefinite numbers. Sometimes the 

 numbers are both definite and indefinite in the same 

 flower. Thus a flower may have a definite number of petals, 



D 



FIG. 117. A, a flower-bearing twig of pear. B, lengthwise section through the 

 flower. C, diagram, showing the number and relation of the flower parts as re- 

 vealed by a cross section. D, lengthwise section through the fruit. 



for example, along with an indefinite number of stamens, 

 as is the case with the apple blossom and other flowers of 

 the rose family. (See Figure 117.) Generally, definite 

 numbers appear in some of the sets, as in the buttercup, 

 or in all of them, as in the lily and the dandelion. In- 

 definiteness as to the number of parts is considered a more 

 primitive character than definiteness. 



