ELEMENTARY BOTANY. 
XIX 
140. Petals , or as it is frequently expressed, flowers, are 
hypogynous (i.e., under the ovary), when they or the disk that bears them are 
entirely free both from the calyx and ovary. The ovary is then described as free or 
superior , the calyx as free or inferior , the petals as being inserted on the receptacle . 
perigynous (i.e., round the ovary), when the disk bearing the petals is quite free 
from the ovary, but is more or less combined with the base of the calyx-tube. The 
ovary is then still described as free or superior , even though the combined disk and 
calyx-tube may form a deep cup with the ovary lying in the bottom ; the calyx is 
said to be free or inferior, and the petals are described as inserted on the calyx . 
epigynous (i.e., upon the ovary), when the disk bearing the petals is combined both 
with the base of the calyx-tube and the base outside of the ovary ; either closing over 
the ovary so as only to leave a passage for the style, or leaving more or less of the top 
of the ovary free, but always adhering to it above the level of the insertion of the lowest 
ovule (except in a very few cases where the ovules are absolutely suspended from the 
top of the cell). In epigynous flowers the ovary is described as adherent or inferior , 
the calyx as adherent or superior, the petals as inserted on or above the ovary. In 
some works, however, most epigynous flowers are included in the perigynous ones, 
and a very different meaning is given to the term epigynous (144), and there are a 
few cases where no positive distinction can be drawn between the epigynous and 
perigynous flowers, or again between the perigynous and hypogynous flowers. 
141. When there are no petals, it is the insertion of the stamens that determines 
the difference between the hypogynous, perigynous, and epigynous flowers. 
142. When there are both petals and stamens, 
in hypogynous flowers, the petals and stamens are usually free from each other, 
but sometimes they are combined at the base. In that case, if the petals are 
distinct from each other, and the stamens are monadelphous, the petals are often 
said to be inserted on or combined with the staminal tube ; if the corolla is gamope- 
talous and the stamens distinct from each other, the latter are said to be inserted in 
the tube of the corolla. 
in perigynous flowers, the stamens are usually inserted immediately within 
the petals, or alternating with them on the edge of the disk, but occasionally much 
lower down within the disk, or even on the unenlarged part of the receptacle. 
in epigynous flowers, when the petals are distinct, the stamens are usually 
inserted as in perigynous flowers ; when the corolla is gamopetalous, the stamens 
are either free and epigynous, or combined at the base with (inserted in) the tube of 
the corolla. 
143. When the receptacle is distinctly elongated below the ovary, it is often 
called a gynobasis, gynophore, or stalk of the ovary. If the elongation takes place 
below the stamens or below the petals, these stamens or petals are then said to be 
inserted on the stalk of the ovary , and are occasionally, but falsely, described as 
epigynous. Really epigynous stamens (i.e., when the filaments are combined with 
the ovary) are very rare, unless the rest of the flower is epigynous. 
144. An epigynous disk is a name given either to the thickened summit of the 
ovary in epigynous flowers, or very rarely to a real disk or enlargement of the 
receptable closing over the ovary. 
145. In the relative position of any two or more parts of the flower, whether in 
the same or in different whorls, they are 
connivent, when nearer together at the summit than at the base. 
divergent, when further apart at the summit than at the base. 
coherent , when united together, but so slightly that they can be separated with 
little or no laceration ; and one of the two coherent parts (usually the smallest or least 
important) is said to be adherent to the other. Grammatically speaking, these two 
1 terms convey nearly the same meaning, but require’a different form of phrase ; prac- 
tically however it has been found more convenient to restrict cohesion to the union 
of parts of the same whorl, and adhesion to the union of parts of different whorls. 
connate, when so closely united that they cannot be separated without lacera- 
I tion. Each of the two connate parts, and especially that one which is considered 
j the smaller or of the least importance, is said to be adnata to the other. 
free, when neither coherent nor connate. 
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