176 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
the middle of these stamens {fig. 2), you will observe the pistil, of which the 
base (o) is the ovary, and this is surmounted with a neck or style, terminated 
by the swollen stigma. It is this body (o) which ultimately becomes the ripe 
fruit of the Cherry, the Peach, or Plum, as the case may be. 
Now let us take another instance of a plant that belongs to the same 
natural alliance, but which differs to 
some extent from the Cherry in its 
structure. It is the Strawberry 
(Fragaria vesca, fig. 3). The calyx, 
like that of the Cherry, is composed 
Fig. 4.- Section of the flower of the 
Strawberry. 
of five blades, but behind these, in 
the Strawberry, there are five others 
much smaller {fig. 5) ; and, as in the 
Cherry also, the segments of the calyx 
are united at half their length, and at 
the point of union the petals and sta¬ 
mens are inserted. 
The pistils are very numerous, 
curved, and attached by their back on 
the large swollen receptacle or sup¬ 
port {fig. 4), which, instead of being 
flat, as in all the flowers we have 
hitherto studied, is conical. It is at 
Fig. 3.—The Strawberry (Fragaria vesca). fi rst dry and tough; when the flower 
is young, but later it enlarges, becomes succulent, and assumes a purple colour. 
By its development it spreads the pistils, which before formed on its surface a 
close layer; the space between these becomes 
smooth and shining. They become embedded in 
the flesh, and this flesh constitutes that delicious 
fruit we call a Strawberry {fig. 6). 
There is yet another illustration to be studied 
belonging to this same alliance, in which the 
structure differs from all the preceding. It is 
Fig 5 —Calyx and ^ 0Un( ^ the ^ 0SE {fig- ?)• To Study this dif- 
pfstiis of the straw- ferent structure we shall begin with the central Fig. 6.—Fruit of the 
berry - organ. Observe first the point where the petals strawberry, 
are attached; it is the same where the stamens are inserted. If vou remove 
these petals you will find them perfectly free and distinct. Now, with a pen¬ 
knife cut the flower in half, longitudinally, beginning at the base, and cutting 
upwards, as is represented in fig. 8. This done, you see a considerable cavity, 
rounded at the base, and open at the top, thickly clothed with silken hairs, 
and containing the ovules (ov), which are attached to its walls. These ovaries 
are surmounted by their styles (sty), which protrude through the mouths of 
