Volume I Part 14 (2/2)

Typically represented by those of the oak.

IV. ABIETINE.--Shaft or sword-shape, as the leaves of firs and pines.

V. CRESSIC.--Delicate and light, with smooth tissue, as the leaves of cresses, and clover.

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VI. SALVIAN.--Soft and woolly, like miniature blankets, easily folded, as the leaves of sage.

VII. CAULINE.--Softly succulent, with thick central ribs, as of the cabbage.

VIII. ALOEINE.--Inflexibly succulent, as of the aloe or houseleek.

/# No rigid application of these terms must ever be attempted; but they direct the attention to important general conditions, and will often be found to save time and trouble in description.

IV. THE FLOWER.

Its general nature and function 65

Consists essentially of Corolla and Treasury 78

Has in perfect form the following parts:--

I. THE TORUS.--Not yet enough described in the text. It is the expansion of the extremity of the flower-stalk, in preparation for the support of the expanding flower 66, 224

II. THE INVOLUCRUM.--Any kind of wrapping or propping condition of leaf.a.ge at the base of a flower may properly come under this head; but the manner of prop or protection differs in different kinds, and I will not at present give generic names to these peculiar forms.

{246} III. THE CALYX (The Hiding-place).--The outer whorl of leaves, under the protection of which the real flower is brought to maturity. Its separate leaves are called SEPALS 80

IV. THE COROLLA (The Cup).--The inner whorl of leaves, forming the flower itself. Its separate leaves are called PETALS 71

V. THE TREASURY.--The part of the flower that contains its seeds.

VI. THE PILLAR.--The part of the flower above its treasury, by which the power of the pollen is carried down to the seeds 78

It consists usually of two parts--the SHAFT and VOLUTE 78

When the pillar is composed of two or more shafts, attached to separate treasury-cells, each cell with its shaft is called a CARPEL 235

VII. THE STAMENS.--The parts of the flower which secrete its pollen 78

They consist usually of two parts, the FILAMENT and ANTHER, not yet described.

VIII. THE NECTARY.--The part of the flower containing its honey, or any other special product of its inflorescence. The name has often been {247} given to certain forms of petals of which the use is not yet known. No notice has yet been taken of this part of the flower in Proserpina.

/# These being all the essential parts of the flower itself, other forms and substances are developed in the seed as it ripens, which, I believe, may most conveniently be arranged in a separate section, though not logically to be considered as separable from the flower, but only as mature states of certain parts of it.

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