106 
THE FLORIST AND FOMOLOGIST. 
rise and distribute the pollen on the stigma, and thus impregnation of the 
ovary is accomplished. 
In observing the flowers of the Wallflower, the Herb Robert, the Butter¬ 
cup, and the Berberry, you must have remarked that the stamens and the 
petals were produced from the same point—that is to say, they were both 
inserted in the same point of the base of the flower. The modes of inser¬ 
tion of these organs will be brought more prominently out in subsequent 
lessons, and it will then be seen how important it is to observe these pecu~ 
liarities. r 
Now, let us take as our next illustration the Common Comfrey (Symphytum 
officinale, Jig. 6). You 
find first the calyx 
or exterior envelope, 
formed of five straight 
and pointed leaves, 
bristling with rough 
hairs. Endeavour to 
remove them separ¬ 
ately, and you will 
find you cannot do so 
without tearing them. 
They will not drop off 
so easily as those of 
the Berberry, because 
they are united to¬ 
gether by their inferior 
half, and this enables 
them to remain in 
their position even 
after the rest of the 
flower has fallen. Split 
this envelope, and you 
will find, on the inside, 
the corolla, composed 
of five leaves, but 
these so closely united 
together that they 
form one bodjq except 
at the summit, where 
they are free, and ap¬ 
pear in the form of 
five small points. The 
union of these leaves 
thus forms a long tube, swollen in the middle, and taking its rise immediately 
from the receptacle or base of the flower, as in those flowers which we have 
already examined. 
On opening the corolla you meet with five small fringed triangular plates, 
as 'is represented in fig. 7, placed opposite the five free extremities or seg¬ 
ments of the corolla. These are a species of scales, set close together, and 
form a conical dome, which seems intended to protect the organs contained 
in the interior of the tube. These scales are hollow, and open by a slit, 
which is easily seen on looking into the flower, and into which the point of a 
penknife may be introduced. 
Now split this tube, or corolla more properly speaking. You will find 
Fig. 6.— Symphytum officinale. 
