72 
THE FLOWER ( EPIGYNY ). 
being completely immersed in the hollow receptacle (C in 
fig. 5 ). Such an ovary is termed inferior ; and the other parts 
of the flower are epigynous. It seems probable enough that 
Fig. 5. Diagrammatic longitudinal Sections of Flowers, 
to show types of receptacle, ovary, stigma, &c. A, hypogynous flower 
with unilocular ovary, parietal placentation, and numerous ascending 
anatropous ovules with raphe downwards ; stigma sessile, bilobed. B, 
perigynous flower with multi-locular ovary, axile placentation, and 
numerous horizontal anatropous ovules with raphe upwards ; style with 
bifid stigma. C, epigynous flower with multi-locular ovary, apical 
placentation, and solitary pendulous anatropous ovules with ventral 
raphe ; style long with capitate stigma, r, receptacle, k , calyx, c , 
corolla, a , stamens, 0 , ovary, st , stigma. 
such a series of stages may have occurred in the original 
evolution of epigynous flowers ; it is at any rate improbable 
that many were derived from perigynous flowers with any 
important depth of tube. Epigyny is found in Umbelliferae, 
Compositae, Rubiaceae, Iridaceae, Begoniaceae, and else- 
where. 
Descriptive Terms , &*c. Flowers, or perianth, calyx, corolla, 
stamens, may be hypo peri- or epi-gynous (above) ; the gynoeceum 
superior or inferior. Perigynous flowers may be shallowly or deeply 
perigynous ; in the latter case the tube is described as to length, 
texture, &c. There may be a disc in the flower (see above). Sometimes 
outgrowths (effigurations) of the receptacle are seen, e.g. in Passiflora, 
Capparidaceae, Orchidaceae, &c. Sometimes the receptacle elongates 
between the whorls of floral members, e.g. in Lychnis between calyx 
and corolla, in Passiflora and in many Capparidaceae between corolla 
and stamens, in Capparis between stamens and carpels. If the elongated 
portion bears the stamens it is termed an androphoi'e , if only the carpels, 
a gynophore. Other receptacular outgrowths are seen in epigynous 
flowers, e.g. the wings on the inferior ovary of Begonia, the thorns 
(which sometimes bear flowers) on that of Tetragonia, the nectariferous 
disc of Umbelliferae, Compositae, & c., and so on. 
