164 
ORGANOGRAPHY. 
BOOK I. 
it is said to be paleaceous : finally, it is sometimes reduced to 
a mere rim : in which case it is said either to be marginate^ 
or to be none — to have no existence. A calyx appears to be 
brought into this state by having no room to develope, in 
consequence of the pressure of the surrounding flowers. In 
such cases as this, where the calyx is altogether obsolete, the 
definition of that organ, as the most external of the floral 
envelopes, appears to be destroyed : but there can be no 
doubt that it is present in the form of a membrane adhering 
to the side of the ovary, although it is not visible to our eyes. 
The same may be said of such plants as those Acanthaceae 
(Introduction to the Nat. Sgst., p. 233.), in which, although the 
calyx is reduced to a mere ring, yet it does exist in the shape 
of that rinff. 
O 
The Calyx being composed of leaves analogous to those of 
the stem, but reduced in size and altered in appearance, it 
will follow that it is subject to the same laws of developement 
as stem-leaves ; and, as the latter, in all cases, originate imme-’ 
diately from the axis, beloio those that succeed them in the 
order of developement, so the calyx must always have an 
origin beneath those other organs which succeed it in the 
form of corolla, stamen, and pistil or ovary. Hence has arisen 
the axiom in botany, that whatever the apparent station of the 
calyx may be, it always derives its origin from below the 
ovary : nevertheless, it is often said to be superior. 
If it is distinct from the ovary, as in Silene, it is said to be 
inferior or adherent (calyx inferus, or liherus) ; and the ovary 
is then called superior (ovarium superum, or liberum) (Plate V. 
fig. 3.) ; but if it is firmly attached to the sides of the ovary, 
so that it cannot be separated, as in Myriophyllum, it is then 
called superior^ or free (calyx superus, or liberus), and the 
ovary inferior (ovarium inferum) (Plate V. fig. 7. 9.). From 
what has been said of pappus it will be obvious that it is a 
superior calyx. 
The general opinion of botanists, in regard to the real 
nature of the superior calyx, is such as I have stated; and 
the accuracy of it in the majority of cases is indisputable : 
but it is by no means certain that, in some instances, what is 
called the tube of the calyx is not, as I have elsewhere stated 
