151 
THE PEINCIPLES OP BOTANY. 
By Professor James Buckman, F.L.S., P.G.S., &c. &c. 
{Continued from p. 96.) 
Flowers may be said to consist of a series of whorls of 
altered leaves, the theoretical explanation of which propo¬ 
sition will be considered hereafter. At present we shall 
merely describe the floral organs, which may be conveniently 
arranged as under, leaving out some occasional adventitious 
structures:— 
Floral Organs. 
2. cSla 1 Envelopes. 
3. Stamen 1 ^ j s- 
^ Pistil ^ -tvGpTOCluctlVB yjVpCLTlS* 
1. The Calyx, or cup of the flower, usually consists of a 
whorl of light green leaves called sepals, sometimes separate 
and distinct, each with its midrib and venation on the plan 
of a leaf, refined in proportions and in delicacy of structure 
and tint. Sometimes these are united at their sides, and in 
this way a tubular calyx is formed. Of course, in per¬ 
fectly formed flowers there is a persistency in the characters of 
this organ, and hence the number of its leaves, of its teeth, 
and its general armature, whether smooth or hairy, entire 
or notched at the margin, &c., are facts noted in plant discri¬ 
mination, much in the same manner as applies to leaves 
themselves. 
As regards colour, it will be found that in some instances 
a great charm is derived from a tendency to variation in this 
respect, in proof of w'hich we can adduce no better example 
than that of the fuschia, in varieties of which the calyx will 
be found to present as many shades as the dresses of the 
fairest flowers of creation on a fete day at the Botanical 
' Society's Gardens ; and, indeed, this portion of the fuschia 
is not unlike, both in the graces of form and colouring, to the 
pointed peplums of the ladies’ skirt. 
The object of the calyx is not only as a cup to support the 
upper and inner parts of the flowers, but also as a protection 
to these during their youth and immaturity ; this latter func¬ 
tion may be well observed in the common poppy. If we 
examine a young flower-bud of any species of poppy, we shall 
