Parts?

SCHEDULE TWENTY-ONE, DESCRIBING FIG. 173.

Peduncle, Bracts, Rachis, Ped icels, Flowers.

LEAF.-Cauline, simple, sessile, exstipulate, feather-veined, serrate, oval-acute.

STEM.-Erect, round, herbaceous.

This is the last inflorescence schedule, and future descriptions of this part of plants will be made without the help of questions. There are some obvious characters of the inflorescence, easily understood and described, that have not been named in the schedule, and, that they may be noted in future descriptions, we call attention to them here.

When many flowers are crowded upon a rachis, or receptacle, the cluster is said to be dense; but when they are few and scattering, it is said to be loose.

The bracts of a cluster may be very numerous, or they may present peculiarities that a child can easily describe, such, for instance, as relate to shape or color, or they may form an involucre at the base of the cluster, and these points might well be included in a description.

G

CHAPTER IV.

THE FLOWER.

EXERCISE XXXV.

Parts of the Flower.

FIG. 175 represents one flower-the parts, though separated, stand in their natural relation to each other.

FIG. 175.

Pistil.

Stamens.

Corolla.

Perianth.

- Calyx.

-Receptacle.

RECEPTACLE. The top of the peduncle, more or less swollen, from which the flower grows.

CA'LYX.-The outer circle of green flower-leaves. COROLLA. The inner circle of delicately-colored flower-leaves.

PER'IANTH.-A name given to both circles of flower-leaves when they are so nearly alike as not to be separable into calyx and corolla.

STA'MENS. Slender, thread-like parts next inside the corolla.

PIS'TIL.-The central part of the flower inside the

stamens.

When there is but one whorl of flower-leaves, whatever its color, it is called a calyx.

SE PAL. One of the leaves of the calyx.

Sepal.

NOTE.-The first thing in studying the flower is to become acquainted with its leading parts and their names. This is done by comparing numerous specimens with Fig. 175. The pupil is then ready to begin work with the flower schedule. Figs. 177 and 179 are given to assist the pupil in answering the first questions upon it. Write under the question, calyx? the names of the parts that compose the calyx, and under the question, corolla? the names of the parts that compose the corolla. Then count the sepals in your flower, and write their number after the word sepals, in the next column; count also the petals in the corolla, and write their number after the word petals.

A POLYSEP'ALOUS CALYX has its sepals distinct from each other, so that each one can be pulled off separately. A GAMOSEP ALOUS CALYX has its sepals more or less grown together by their edges, so that, if you pull one, the whole calyx comes off.

Having used schedules twenty-two and twentythree till the names of the parts that compose the calyx, corolla, and perianth, are firmly associated with the parts themselves, we are now ready to begin their description. Schedule twenty-four shows you where to write what you have to say about them. Observe first whether the sepals of a calyx, the petals of a corolla, or the leaves of a perianth, are grown together or not. Sometimes they cohere so slightly, that close observation is necessary to ascertain it. Be cautious about pronouncing a corolla polypetalous until you have made many observations upon different specimens of it. Do not guess.

You can count the petals of gamopetalous corollas by their marks of cohesion.