By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



165 



whorl consisting of leaflets more altered and occasionally united 

 together, form the Catyx, within which is the Coralla formed of 

 leaves of elegant and brilliant colouring, and enclosing the Stamens 

 and Pistils, which latter organs differ so much in form and appear- 

 ance from the original leaf, that their connection can only be 

 established by observing intermediate states, in which the transi- 

 tion has been imperfectly effected, and also by the return which 

 they occasionally exhibit to the' state of true leaves. Hence we 

 see that the Calyx is truly the outer of the two whorls, which im- 

 mediately enclose the stamens and pistils ; but the involucrum of 

 the composite encloses flowers not stamens, 8fC, — it is therefore not a 

 Calyx. As the flowers like other vegetable organs,are disposed around 

 a central axis, it is obvious that if those which would otherwise form 

 a spike or cluster of considerable length, were to be arranged on a 

 common plane according to their usual alternate disposition, they 

 would form a head of florets, occupying concentric circles, and 

 situated upon a more or less flattened disk. This is the exact na- 

 ture of the formation of a compound flower, the receptacle on 

 which the florets are situated being in fact, the spike or 

 axis, much abbreviated. The shortening of axis by bringing the 

 upper and differently shaped leaves of the stem into close con- 

 tact, forming the scales of the involucrum, sufficiently accounts for 

 the true nature of this latter body, whilst the propriety of the 

 modern appellation must be quite evident. The only true Calyx 

 which the florets can have is the pappus or down, consisting of 

 numerous rays, each of which represents the midrib of a diminu- 

 tive leaflet (the laminas of which are mostly abortive), and being 

 occasionally furnished with lateral veins, forming in that case 

 what is usually denominated the feathery pappus. This pappus as 

 it terminates the seed vessel (as the calyx does in inferior fruits), and 

 surrounds the corolla or inner floral envelope, is plainly the true 

 calyx. In some cases it is partially developed into a series of scales, 

 at other times it exists in an exceedingly diminutive state, as a slight 

 rim, whilst in others it is entirely absent. The outermost scales of 

 the involucrum, are described by some botanists as Bracteolse, or 

 floral leaflets, but how improperly will be apparent when we con- 



