ANGIOSPERMS. 
559 
When the axial part of the flower, the Receptacle or Torus^ is so elevated in the 
centre that the base of the gynaeceum lies evidently above the stamens, or at least in 
the middle of the androecium, the perianth and the androecium, or even the 
whole flower, is said to be hypogynoiis (Fig. 382). When, on the contrary, the 
receptacle is hollowed out like a cup or saucer, bearing the perianth and stamens on 
its annular margin, while the gyneeceum springs from the bottom (Fig. 384, A), the 
flower is said to be perigynous. It is obvious that intermediate forms are possible 
between extreme cases of hypogynous and perigynous flowers ; and these are in fact 
common, especially among Rosiflorse. In both these forms of flower the gynaeceum 
Fig. 383.— Longitudinal section through the inferior ovary of Eryngiiim campestre; I sepals, c petals, y filament, gr style, 
h disc, KK nucellus of the ovule, i integument. 
is free, the receptacle taking no part in the formation of the wall of the ovary, 
although this appears to be the case externally in some perigynous flowers, 
as Pyrus and Rosa. The flower finally is epigynoiis when it possesses an actually 
inferior ovary. This latter is distinguished from the ovary which is buried in the 
receptacle of perigynous flowers by its wall being formed of the receptacle itself 
hollowed out into the form of a cup or even of a long tube. The carpels, which in 
the case of the free superior ovary form its whole wall, spring in the inferior ovary 
(like the perianth and the androecium) from the margin of the hollow receptacle, 
and only close up the cavity above, where they are prolonged into the style and 
