SCIENCE OF BOTANY. 
400 
phyllous calyx, that is one of an entire piece, ending in five very 
distinct points, the two wider of which are at the top, and the three 
narrower are at the bottom. Having examined the calyx, you may 
pull it off, so as to leave the rest of the flower entire. Then you will 
see plainly, that the corolla is polypetalous, the first piece is a large 
petal covering the others, occupying the upper part of the corolla, 
and called the standard (vexillum) which appears designed to pro¬ 
tect the rest of the flower from the principal injuries of the weather. 
The standard being taken off, exposes to view those two side pie¬ 
ces to which it adhered, and these are called wings (ala.) These 
wings are scarcely less useful in protecting the sides of the flower 
than the standard is in covering it. 
Taking ofF the wings, you discover the last piece of the corolla, 
called the keel (carina.) This covers and defends the centre of the 
flower, and wraps it up underneath as carefully as the three other 
petals envelope the upper part and the sides. This last piece is as 
it were the strong box, into which nature has put her treasure, to 
keep it safe from the attacks of air and water. 
When this petal is well examined draw it gently downwards* 
pinching it lightly by the thin edge, for fear of tearing away what it 
contains. I am eertainy ou will be pleased with the mystery, when 
the veil is removed. The young fruit involved in the keel is con¬ 
structed in this manner; a cylindric membrane, terminated by ten 
distinct threads, surrounds the germ or embryo of the legum or pod. 
These ten threads are so many filaments united below, round the 
germ, and terminated each by a yellow anther, whose farina covers 
the stigma which terminates the style, or grows along the side of it. 
This stigma, though yellow with the meal which sticks to it, is easily 
distinguished by its figure and size. 
Thus these ten filaments form also about the germ an interior ar¬ 
mour to preserve it from exterior injuries. 
The legum or seed-pod is distinguished from the silique of the 
cruciform tribes, by the seed being fastened only to one side of the 
case alternately to each valve of it, but all of them to the same side. 
If I have made myself clearly understood, it will be perceived 
what astonishing precautions have been taken by the Author of na¬ 
ture to bring the embryo of the pea to maturity, and above all to pro¬ 
tect it, in the midst of the greatest rains, from the wet which is fatal 
to it, without inclosing it in a hard shell, which would make it ano¬ 
ther kind of fruit The Creator, attentive to the preservation of all 
beings, has taken great care to protect the fructification of plants 
from attacks that may injure it, and particularly those which are for 
