vi 
INTRODUCTIOK. 
parts of fructification ; when present it is seated on the recep- 
tacle, and is distinguished by its figure, by the number, divi- 
sion, and shape of its leaves or segments, and is variously 
named, according to the circumstances with which it is at- 
tended, as perianthium, involucrum, amentum, &.C., these terms 
are hereafter explained. 
2. The corolla is the termination of the inner bark of the 
plants, and accompanies the fructification in the form of leaves, 
variously coloured, under the general name of the flower of 
the plant : it is generally seated on the receptacle, sometimes 
on the calyx. The leaves of the corolla are called petals, by 
the number, division and shape of which it is distinguished. 
The nectariura is usually an appendage to the petals of the 
corolla. 
3. The stamina, or male parts of the flower, proceed 
from the wood of the plant ; each stamen consists of two 
parts, the filament and anthera ; the filament is the thread- 
shaped part which serves as a foot-stalk to elevate the anthera; 
which last is the top of the filament, and contains the impreg- 
nating pollen. The anthera is distinguished by its shape, &c. 
4. The pistillura, or female part of the flower, proceediug 
from the pith of the plant, is that erect column which is gene- 
rally placed in the centre of the flower; surrounded by tlie 
stamina; it consists of three parts : the germen, style, and 
stigma. The germen is the base of the pistillum, after sonae 
time it becomes a seed vessel, when it takes the name of 
pericarpium ; the style elevates the stigma from the germen, to 
receive the influence of the stamina, and to convey it down to 
the germen as through a tube, the stigma is generally placced 
like a head on the summit of the style, and covered with moiis- 
ture to retain the pollen of the anthera. 
5. The pericarpium, as we have said, is the germen grown 
to maturity ; or, in other words, it is the ultimate process of 
fructification, and assumes a variety of forms, distinguishied 
by as many names, as siliqua, a pod ; ba^, a berry ; pomuira, 
an apple, &c. 
6. Semina, the seeds, are the essence of the fruit of eve?ry 
vegetable, and consist of five parts, viz. 1 . corculum, the hea rt, 
is the essence of the seed, and principle of the future plamt ; 
and this again is divided into the plumula, or part whiich 
