84 BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS. [Ch. XIV. 
Fig. 58. 338. 10th. Ament, or catkin, is an as- 
g semblage of flowers, composed of scales 
and stamens, arranged along a common, 
thread-like receptacle, as in the Chestnut 
and Willow; this is more particularly de 
scribed under the divisions of the calyx. 
The scales of the ament are properly the 
calyxes ; the whole aggregate, including 
scales, stamens or pistils, and filiform re- 
ceptacle, constitutes the ament. 
339. At Fig. 58, is the representation: 
of the ament of the Poplar, containing pis- 
tillate flowers; this is oblong, loosely im- 
bricated, and cylindrical; the calyx is a 
. flat scale, with deep fringed partings. At 
4, b, is an enlarged representation of the fer- 
tile or pistillate flower: the calyx or bract 
is a little below the corolla, which is cup- 
i “shaped, of one petal, and crowned with an 
egg-shaped, pointed germ; the germ is superior, and bears four 
(sometimes eight) stigmas. 
340. The staminate ament of the Poplar resembles the pis: 
tillate, except that its corolla encloses eight stamens but no pis- 
til, The Poplar is in the class Dicecia, (or two houses, ) because 
the pistillate and staminate flowers are on different trees, and oi 
the order Octandria, because its barren flowers have eight sta: 
mens,. 
atl 4 SS 
338. What is an ament? 
339, What does Fig. 58 represent ? 
340. Why is the Poplar in the class Diccia, order Octand: ia ? 
