46 OVARY, ETC. 
presents various forms, but its shape is constant in plants 
of the same kind; thus in the Evening Primrose its 
shape is triangular (f. 15.), oval in a kind of Onion 
(f. 16.), globular in the Gourd (f. 17.), and Almond 
(f. 18.), in which it is represented as bursting. 
OF THE PISTIL. 
67. The pistil constitutes the central part or organ 
of the flower; it is either simple or compound, accor- 
ding as it is composed of one or more carpels. 
68. The pistil consists of an ovary (pl. 16. f. 1. 0.), 
or hollow organ, a style (s.) or the part continued 
upwards from the ovary, but which is not always 
present; and the stigma (s¢.), or moist end of the 
style. Figures 1 and 2 represent the young, or unripe 
pod of the Pea, which will serve as an example of a 
simple ovary: in it the young peas (f. 2. ov.) will be 
found arranged on one side of each half of the pod; 
and if compared with others, these ovules or unripe 
seeds will be found to be always placed on the same 
side or edge of the pod. The parts to which the 
ovules are fixed is called the placenta, or receptacle 
for the ovules; this part is present in all ovaries, but 
varies as to its position and form. 
69. The ovary may be alone in the flower, as in the 
Pea, or there may be several ovaries in one flower, as 
in the Geranium (f. 8. ov.), and Mallow (f. 4. ov.), in 
which they are arranged in a circle round a centre. 
These ovaries may be separate from each other, as 
in the Peony (f. 5.), Buttercup (f. 6.), Love in a Mist 
(£.7.); or they may be united to each other by their 
