Fig. 270. Flax-flower in section; the parts all free,—hypogynous.
Fig. 271. Cherry-flower in section; petals and stamens adnate to tube of calyx,—perigynous.
Fig. 272. Purslane-flower in section; calyx, petals, stamens, all adnate to lower half of ovary,—perigynous.
Perigynous (around the pistil) when connate with each other, that is, when petals and stamens are inserted or borne on the calyx, whether as in Cherry-flowers (Fig. [271]) they are free from the pistil, or as in Purslane and Hawthorn (Fig. [272], [273]) they are also adnate below to the ovary.
Epigynous (on the ovary) when so adnate that all these parts appear to arise from the very summit of the ovary, as in Fig. [274]. The last two terms are not very definitely distinguished.
271. Another and a simpler form of expression is to describe parts of the flower as being
Free, when not united with or inserted upon other parts.
Distinct, when parts of the same kind are not united. This term is the counterpart of coalescent, as free is the counterpart of adnate. Many writers use the term "free" indiscriminately for both; but it is better to distinguish them.