BOTANY. 
247 
founded wholly on the seven elementary organs of fructification. 
These are: — 
1 . Calyx. — The outer or lower part of the flower, generally 
green, or not coloured. 
2. Corol- —The coloured blossom, within or above the 
calyx. 
3. Stamens. — The mealy or glutinous knobs in the flower, 
with or without filaments. 
4. Pistil. — The central organ of the flower, whose base be¬ 
comes the pericarp and seed. 
5. Pericarp. — The covering of the seed, whether pod, shell, 
bag, or pulpy substance. 
6. Seed. — The essential part, containing the rudiment of a 
new plant. 
7. Receptacle. — The base which sustains the other six parts, 
being at the end of the flower-stem. 
Every calyx is either monophyllous, consisting of one leaf, 
or polvphyllous, consisting of more than one leaf. They are 
farther subdivided into—1. Perianth. — That calyx which ad¬ 
joins and surrounds the other parts of the flower, as seen in the 
apple, rose, &c. About two thirds of all plants have perianths. 
2. Involucre. — That calyx which comes out at some distance 
below the flower, and never encloses it. Involucres are either 
universal, as in caraway, lovage, &c.; or partial, as in corian¬ 
der; or proper, placed beneath a single flower. 3. Spathe. — A 
kind of membrane, which at first encloses the flower, and after 
it expands, is left at a distance below it, as daffodil, onion, and 
Indian turnip. 4. Glume. — That kind of calyx which is com¬ 
posed of one, two, or three valves or scales, commonly transpa¬ 
rent at margin, and often terminated by a long awn or beard. 
All grasses have glume calyxes. 5. Ament. — An assemblage 
of flower-bearing scales, arranged on a slender thread or recep¬ 
tacle, each scale generally containing the lateral calyx of a 
flower, as in the willow, chestnut, pine, &c. 6. Calyptre. — The 
cap or hood of pistillate mosses, resembling, in form and posi¬ 
tion, an extinguisher set on a candle. Conspicuous in the com- i 
mon haircap-moss. 7. Volva. —The ring or wrapper at firs- 
