Proserpina Volume I Part 14

VI. THE VIRGULA.--The leafless flower-stem of an annual plant, not a gra.s.s, as of a primrose or dandelion 147

VII. THE FILUM.--The running stem of a creeping plant

/# It is not specified in the text for use; but will be necessary; so also, perhaps, the Stelechos, or stalk proper (26), the branched stem of an annual plant, not a gra.s.s; one cannot well talk of the Virga of hemlock. The 'Stolon'

is explained in its cla.s.sical sense at page 158, but I believe botanists use it otherwise. I shall have occasion to refer to, and complete its explanation, in speaking of bulbous plants.

VIII. THE CAUDEX.--The essentially ligneous and compact part of a stem 149

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/# This equivocal word is not specified for use in the text, but I mean to keep it for the acc.u.mulated stems of inlaid plants, palms, and the like; for which otherwise we have no separate term.

IX. THE AVENA.--Not specified in the text at all; but it will be prettier than 'baculus,' which is that I had proposed, for the 'staff' of gra.s.ses.

See page 179.

/# These ten names are all that the student need remember; but he will find some interesting particulars respecting the following three, noticed in the text:--- #/

STIPS.--The origin of stipend, stupid, and stump 148

STIPULA.--The subtlest Latin term for straw 148

CAULIS (Kale).--The peculiar stem of branched eatable vegetables 149

CANNA.--Not noticed in the text; but likely to be sometimes useful for the stronger stems of gra.s.ses.

III. THE LEAF.

Derivation of word 26

The Latin form 'folium' 41

The Greek form 'petalos' 42

Veins and ribs of leaves, to be usually summed under the term 'rib' 44

Chemistry of leaves 46 {244}

/# The nomenclature of the leaf consists, in botanical books, of little more than barbarous, and, for the general reader, totally useless attempts to describe their forms in Latin. But their forms are infinite and indescribable except by the pencil. I will give central types of form in the next volume of Proserpina; which, so that the reader sees and remembers, he may _call_ anything he likes. But it is necessary that names should be a.s.signed to certain cla.s.ses of leaves which are essentially different from each other in character and tissue, not merely in form. Of these the two main divisions have been already given: but I will now add the less important ones which yet require distinct names.

I. APOLLINE.--Typically represented by the laurel 51

II. ARETHUSAN.--Represented by the alisma 52

/# It ought to have been noticed that the character of serration, within reserved limits, is essential to an Apolline leaf, and absolutely refused by an Arethusan one.

III. DRYAD.--Of the ordinary leaf tissue, neither manifestly strong, nor admirably tender, but serviceably consistent, which we find generally to be the substance of the leaves of forest trees.

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.