SEPTEMBER. 
199 
Fig. 2.—Pistil of Iris 
germanica. 
which it cannot be distinguished; then, at the part where its three leaves 
become free, and it resumes its brilliant colours, you see the corolla and the 
stamens take their rise. 
It appears, from this disposition, that the ovary seems to be below the 
calyx, but in reality it is above it; and the illusion arises from the fact that 
the inferior portion of the calyx is united with it, and becomes part of its 
substance in taking its colour and its form. 
The three leaves of the corolla are erect, and much 
shorter than those of the calyx. As to the three stamens, 
they lie on the sepals or leaves of the calyx. Observe the 
large anthers poised on the top of the filaments of the sta¬ 
mens—they open by two long slits, which are turned to¬ 
wards the centre of the flower. 
Let us now study the central organ or ovary. Begin 
by removing the. three external leaves, then the three in¬ 
ternal, then the three stamens. There remain in the centre 
three blades not less brilliant than those which you have 
just removed (jig- 2). These blades are curved back on the 
stamens, and conceal them under their external surface; 
they are slightly split at their summit. Observe below 
this split, on the exterior side, a small opening (st) like 
an incision through the tissue of each blade. It is by this 
gaping mouth that fecundation takes place ; it is the orifice 
of a small tube which passes down the centre of the blade, 
and leads to the cells of the ovary. This you can easily 
verify by passing a bristle down the passage. 
Now split the tube of the calyx, longitudinally, right 
down to the base of the triangular ovary, and you will see that the three 
coloured blades of which it is composed are united in one. Examine the 
ovary; cut it transversely by small successive slices (jig. 3), and 
you will see three cavities or cells containing the seeds. These 
seeds are fixed by a double series to the interior angle of each 
cavity. 
Let us now take the Orchis (Orchis mascula). The flowers 
of this plant are irregular in all their parts, and very difficult to 
study ; but if you follow minutely our directions, this lesson will 
afford a great amount of pleasure. 
Procure a flower-spike of an Orchis, and select a flower which 
is about ready to expand (jig. 4). Remove first the small, straight, 
and coloured leaf (b), which accompanies each flower, and which 
s is called a bract; then carefully open the flower and 
you will meet with—first an external envelope or 
calyx of three leaves (s, s, s), forming a semicircle, 
and coloured as those of the second envelope are 
(just as in the Iris). The leaf in the middle of the 
three is a little curved over the central organ, and 
forms a sort of casque or hood. Cut these three 
leaves in their free portion—(I say free , for you see 
the ovary situated below, which indicates that the 
inferior half of the leaves are incorporated with it)— 
and inside of these three leaves you will see three 
others free in almost their whole length. These are 
the petals of the corolla, two of which are alike (p, p), 
and situated before the casque or hood; and one formed entirely different 
Fig. 3 
Section 
of the ovary 
of Iris. 
Fig. 4.—Flower of Orchis 
mascula. 
