THE FLOWER. 
73 
(a) SIMPLE FLOWERS. 
A complete flower consists of the following parts ; 
(1) pistils, (2) stamens, (3) petals and (4) sepals. These 
are situated at the extremity of a branch known as a 
flower-stalk. The parts of the flower are arranged in 
circles or rows, one above or within the other, the calyx 
being below or external, followed successively by the 
corolla, stamens and pistil, the latter terminating the 
floral axis. The point of attachment is somewhat 
enlarged and is known as the torus or receptacle. The 
leaf occurring at the base of the flower-stalk is usually 
modified in form and frequently in color and is known 
as a bract. In an incomplete flower one or more of 
these parts may be wanting. The simplest kind of a 
flower consists of but one part as either a single pistil 
or a single stamen, as in the willows and poplars. 
The pistil consists of the following parts: A some- 
what enlarged lower part, known as the ovary, which 
is hollow and contains more or less rounded bodies, 
known as ovules, and which, under proper conditions, 
finally develop into seeds ; the ovary is prolonged into 
a stem-like part called the style, which is terminated by 
a slightly enlarged portion known as the stigma. A 
flower which produces only a pistil, or pistils, is known 
as a pistillate flower. 
The stamen consists of a stalk, known as the filament, 
and is terminated by a more or less ellipsoidal body, 
known as the anther. The latter contains a yellowish 
powdery substance, called pollen. A flower that con- 
sists of a stamen, or group of stamens only, is called 
a staminate flower. 
The stamens and pistils constitute the essential or 
reproductive parts of the flower, and when they are 
both present in one flower it is known as a perfect 
flower. 
