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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
cifully likened to a butterfly. To this subdivision belongs our 
selected example, the Clover. Tbe calyx of all leguminous 
plants is apparently composed of one entire piece ending in five 
distinct points, or perhaps they may be described as five sepals 
united together in a tube. The corolla consists of five parts or 
petals, one of which is larger than the rest, and stands up at the 
back of the others, forming a sort of covering or mantle to 
them before the flower expands : this is called the standard, 
banner, or vexillum. In front of the standard, and practically 
adherent to it, are two side-pieces, or wings, which are care- 
fully folded over a projecting or boat-shaped part of the 
corolla, which comes prominently forward, and is called the 
Tceel or carina. This is formed of two petals, slightly adherent 
by their lower edges to each other. In this keel or cradle, as 
it were, lies hidden the provision which nature makes for the 
growth of future generations of like plants. We have thus 
traced the five portions of the corolla, which correspond in 
number to those of the calyx, but are so disguised by then’ 
curious arrangement that they might not be easily recognized. 
We might almost say that the fanciful names applied to the 
different parts lead to confusion, for the original figure of a 
butterfly is curiously lost in the addition of a standard or ban- 
ner at its back, and the keel or prow of a boat in front. Con- 
sistency, or regard to the real purpose of an organ, is very 
frequently overlooked by poetical naturalists. 
The young fruit, protected by the keel or valve, is at first 
surrounded by a sort of membrane formed by the filaments of 
the stamens, which are united below, but distinct above, and 
surround the germ or bud of the legume. These ten filaments 
only appear to be united together at their’ base, for on close 
examination we find that nine only of them adhere together, 
and that the tenth gradually separates itself from the rest, 
leaving an opening by which the fruit or legume, when it is 
foi-nred, can extend itself and become developed. On the top 
of each of these threads there is the yellow anther containing 
the pollen dust, which falls on the centre body or stigma which 
terminates the style. This style is but a sort of thread-like 
continuation of the legume, to which it adheres even after its 
work has been done in conveying the pollen dust to the ovules, 
and so ensuring the production of the complete legume with 
its perfect seeds. The nine stamens, faithful to each other, 
wither and die together, leaving the discarded and solitary 
brother as them only representative. It was on account of this 
separation of the ten stamens into two groups of one and nine, 
that Linnaeus made this group of plants to constitute his class 
Dictdelphia, or two brotherhoods. 
Leguminous plants are divided into those which have their 
