The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

XELA TrONS OF ORGANISMS. 165is a mere covering or sheath, usually of agreen color, which protects the bud duringthe more tender period, curling up and witherirlgas the flower opens, spreading forth itsbeauty. The second whorl (corolla) is what wemore commonly regard as the flower proper,the colored leaves, or cup, or bell, accordingto the specific shape distinguishing the plant.The third whorl consists of a series of stalksor filaments (stamens) which as the flower maturesor ripens stand up distinct from eachother, each one having at its summit a littletuft or cushion (anther) covered with a finedust or powder (pollen). The fourth or innermostwhorl, the centre piece of the flower(pistil) is that in which the seed is generatedand brought to maturity. We may thus sayof the flower, that its outermost whorl is atemporary covering which withers and shrinksout of view, when the beauty of the innerstructure is laid open; that the second is thatwhich attracts the eye by the loveliness of itshues; while the two which belong to the internalstructure of the flower are concernedwith the reproduction or propagation of theplant, providing for the healthy germ fromwhich a fresh plant of the same order may