176 
ORGANOGRAPHY. 
BOOK I. 
into the cavity, uniting and forming many supernumerary 
cells, as in Diplophractum. 
11. Of the Receptacle. 
The part upon which the carpels are seated is the apex of 
the peduncle, or the summit of the floral branch, of which the 
carpels are the termination. Usually this part, which is called 
the receptacle, is flat, or merely a vanishing point ; but in 
other cases it is very much dilated, and then assumes a variety 
of curious appearances. This receptacle is called torus, or 
thalamus as well as receptaculum, and, in Greek compounds, 
has the name of clinium. 
In Annonaceae and Magnoliaceae it elevates itself from the 
base of the calyx, and bears the numerous stamens peculiar 
to these orders: here it is called Gonopliore (Gonophorum) by 
De Candolle. In Caryophylleae the receptacle is elongated, 
and bears on its summit the petals and stamens : De Candolle 
calls this form Anthopliore (Anthophorum). When it is suc- 
culent and much dilated, so as to resemble the receptacle of a 
Composita, bearing at the same time many ovaries, as in the 
Strawberry and Raspberry, Richard calls it Polyphore : most 
commonly such a receptacle is sufficiently described by the 
adjective fleshy. If only a single row of carpels developes 
upon such a receptacle, as in Ochna, and there is an oblique 
inclination of the carpels towards the axis of the flower, we 
have the Gynohase (Plate V. fig. 3. a) ; in the Geranium this 
part is remarkable for being lengthened into a tapering 
woody cone to which the styles adhere in the form of a beak. 
In Nelumbium it is excavated into a number of cavities, in 
which the ovaries are half hidden. It may be conjectured 
that the receptacle is in reality the growing point of the 
flower bud, and that if is analogous to the spongy head of the 
spadix in Arum, and to the hard spines of the Black-thorn. 
12. Of the Ovule. 
The Ovule (Plate V. fig. 16. to 26.) is a small, semipel- 
lucid, pulpy body, borne by the placenta, and gradually chan- 
