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PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
center are: calyx , composed of parts called sepals; corolla , composed 
of parts termed petals; andr cerium, composed of parts called stamens 
or microsporopylls; and gyncecium, composed of one or more parts 
termed carpels or megasporophylls. 
The stamens and carpels constitute the essential organs, and a 
flower is said to be Perfect when these are present and functional. 
A Hermaphrodite flower is one which possesses both stamens and 
carpels which may or may not be functionally active. In some cases 
the stamens may alone be functional while in others the carpels only 
may function. 
A Regular Flower possesses parts of each whorl of the same shape 
and size, as the flower of Veratrum. 
It is Symmetrical when the parts of each whorl are of the same 
number, or multiples of the same number. 
An Imperfect Flower shows one set of essential organs wanting. 
When either petals or sepals, or both, are present in more than the 
usual number, the flower is said to be “ double,” as the cultivated 
Rose and Carnation. The doubling of flowers is brought about 
through cultivation and is due either to the transformation of sta- 
mens (as in cases cited), and occasionally of carpels into petals, to a 
division of the petals, or to the formation of a new series of petals. 
If the pistils are present and stamens wanting, the flower is called 
pistillate, or female; if it possesses stamens but no pistil, it is described 
as staminate, or male; if both are absent, neutral, as marginal flowers 
of Viburnum. Some plants, as the Begonias and Castor oil bear 
both staminate and pistillate flowers, and are called Monoecious. 
When the staminate and pistillate flowers are borne on different 
plants of the same species, they are termed Dioecious, as the Sassafras 
and Willow. When staminate, pistillate and hermaphrodite flowers 
are all borne on one plant, as on the Maple trees, they are polygamous. 
Connation and Adnation. — In the development of the flowers of 
primitive species of flowering plants, the parts of each whorl are dis- 
joined or separate from each other. In many higher types, however, 
the parts of the same whorl frequently become partly or completely 
united laterally. This condition is termed connation, coalescence, 
cohesion or syngenesis. Illustrations of this may be seen in Bella- 
donna, Stramonium and Uva Ursi flowers, where the petals have 
