BOTANIC A, 
m 
S’Cceptacle/*' and within a common perianthium; and in those 
lowers where each floret hath its proper calyx, that is also a 
perianthium. 
2d. Compound aggregate, consisting also of several 
lesser Bowers or florets, placed sitting (or without partial pe¬ 
duncles) on a common dilated receptacle,and within a common 
perianthium ; and where each floret hath its proper calyx, it 
is also a perianthium. Compound flowers also admit of a 
further description, (viz,) each floret consists of a single petal, 
with generally five divisions, and having five stamina distinct 
at the base, hut united at the top by the antherae into a cy¬ 
linder, through which passe th the style of the pistillum, 
longer than the stamina, and crowned by a stigma with two 
divisions, that are rolled backwards, and having a single seed 
placed upon the receptacle under each floret. 
This is the general character of a regular compound flower, 
to which there are a few exceptions; it also differs when the 
flower is radiate ; f but the essential character of a regular 
floret consists in the antherae being united so as to form a 
cylinder, and having a single seed placed upon the receptacle 
under each floret. 
3d. Umbellate aggregate, when the flower consists- 
of many florets placed on fastigiate peduncles proceeding 
from the same centre or receptacle, and though of different 
lengths, rise to such an hight, as to form a regular head or 
umbel, whether flat, convex, or concave; and both the com¬ 
mon and partial calyx, Linnaeus calls an involucrum.% It is 
* The membranous sort of chaffy substance, or laminas, frequently growing on the 
receptacle, and intended as a partition between the florets, is called palea (chaff.) , 
•j* A flower is said to be radiate, when the florets in the radius or circumference* 
differ from those in the disk; in which case they are generally larger, and are 
called smi-florets, from their difference in form, and in distinction from those of 
the disk, which are called proper-florets : and they also differ as to sex, as in dmt- 
cus, &c. which gives rise to several of the orders in the class syngenesia, which 
contains the compound flowers ; and where they are further explained. 
t The involucnm in umlellate flowers, greatly differs as to the number of 
leaves; and generally each floret hath a proper perianthium, besides the two invo 
lucres. 
