198 
THE LIFE OF FLOWERING PLANTS 
184. Parts of a Flower Found in Nasturtium. — Sepals 
(Latin, separ, separate). — These are greenish pointed leaf¬ 
like parts on the outside of the flower. Together they make 
up the calyx (Greek, kalyx, cover), which protects the other 
parts, at least while they 
are in the bud, from in¬ 
sects, cold, rain, etc. One 
of the sepals has a spur in 
the bottom of which is a 
drop of nectar. 
Petals (Greek, petalon, 
leaf). — The larger parts, 
more showy because more 
brightly colored, are 
petals, which taken to¬ 
gether make up the corolla 
(Latin, corolla, crown). 
Stamens (Latin, sto, 
stand). — These are the 
slender organs which sur¬ 
round the most central 
portion of the flower. 
The stamen has two 
parts, the filament or 
stalk, and the anther or 
box at the top, which 
Figure 182. —Flower of Nasturtium. con tains the pollen. 
b whole flower. A, sepal ; B, petal ; C, PiM. — The central 
stamens : D, pistil; E, spur. 2, petals. .. „ .. 
portion of the nasturtium 
is the pistil, made up of three parts. At the top is (1) the 
stigma (Greek, stigma, point); below it (2) the style (Greek, 
stylos, pillar) which connects it with the lowest part, (3) the 
ovary (Latin, ovum, egg). 
The sepals and the petals are sometimes spoken of as 
floral envelopes or as accessory parts, in distinction to the 
