The pistil consists of two parts—viz., the ovary or germen, which contains the ovules or young seeds, a, and the stigma, b, either placed upon the ovary, or upon the style, or stalk, which is between the stigma and the ovary.
A pistil may be of one carpel (simple), or of more than one (compound). The carpels or the carpellary leaves are the “ovaries.”
The pistil is a very important test for the classification of plants; some trees have no pistils, and the ovules are consequently naked. Such plants are called gymnospermæ. The coniferæ (firs and pines) are thus recognizable, and the position of the ovule is very much that of the ordinary bud.
CHAPTER LIII.
FLOWERING PLANTS (continued).
THE FLORAL AXIS—INFLORESCENCE—FRUIT—SEED—NUTRITION OF PLANTS—ABSORPTION OF CONSTITUENTS.
There are certain arrangements and mutual relations of the various portions of the flowers which we have mentioned that it is useful to consider. The floral axis refers to the position of the verticils, and inflorescence signifies the arrangement of the flowers on the stem. Flowers which possess both stamens and pistil are hermaphrodite; those with only stamens are male; those with the pistil female flowers. If both organs be absent the flower is neutral.
Plants bearing flowers in clusters form several distinct groups, to which appropriate terms are applied indicative of their respective form of flora arrangement.