THE FLOWER 4] 
CHAPTER Vii 
THE FLOWER (continued) 
The Recep- LN order to understand the structure of the 
_tacle. — flower, the form and growth of the receptacle 
must be carefully examined. If the sepals, petals, stamens, 
and carpels are removed in a buttercup, the receptacle 1s seen 
to be conical-shaped (Fig. 34), and it is clear that the carpels — 
are uppermost, the stamens being attached to the receptacle 
immediately beneath the carpels, the petals beneath the 
stamens, and the sepals beneath the petals. The flower is 
then said to be hypogynous (1.2, under the gynecium ; 
Gk. hypo=under), a term referring especially to the position 
of the petals and stamens. The calyx is described as inferior, 
because below the petals and stamens, and the gynecium as 
superior, because it is uppermost. 
This is the way in which all flowers begin to be formed, but 
the growth and development of the receptacle often alters the 
‘Yelative position of these parts. Sometimes, as in the rose, 
the part of the receptacle below the tip grows more rapidly, 
overtopping the tip, thus forming a cup, and carrying with it 
the sepals, petals, and stamens; the carpels being borne by 
the apex of the receptacle are at the bottom of the cup. The 
flower is then said to be perigynous (Gk. peri=round). The 
gynecium is still described as superior as long as it is free 
from the receptacle, and not united to it. 
In some flowers the sides of the receptacle unite with the 
walls of the carpels, the sepals, petals and stamens being 
inserted on the combined receptacle and gynecium. 
In this case the flower is described as epigynous (Gk. epi= 
upon), and the gynecium is inferior. Thus, in what is called 
an inferior gynecium, the wall of the receptacle is fused with 
the carpels; in all other cases the gynecium is superior, It 
