d an inner. The outer circle consists of two
stamens only; the inner has its proper number of four. The flower of
Violet, which is on the plan of five, is symmetrical in calyx, corolla,
and stamens, inasmuch as each of these circles consists of five members;
but it is conspicuously irregular in the corolla, one of the petals
being very different from the rest.

[Illustration: Fig. 239. Flower of a Larkspur. 240. Its calyx and
corolla displayed; the five larger parts are the sepals; the four
smaller, of two shapes, are the petals; the place of the fifth petal is
vacant. 241. Diagram of the same; the place for the missing petal marked
by a dotted line.]

[Illustration: Fig. 242. Flower of a Monkshood. 243. Its parts
displayed; five sepals, the upper forming the hood; the two lateral
alike, broad and flat; the two lower small. The two pieces under the
hood represent the corolla, reduced to two odd-shaped petals; in centre
the numerous stamens and three pistils. 244. Diagram of the calyx and
corolla; the three dotted lines in the place of missing petals.]

254. The flowers of Larkspur, and of Monkshood or Aconite, which are
nearly related, are both strikingly irregular in calyx and corolla, and
considerably unsymmetrical. In Larkspur (Fig. 239-241) the irregular
calyx consists of five sepals, one of which, larger than the rest, is
prolonged behind into a large sac or spur; but the corolla is of only
four petals (of two shapes),--the fifth, needed to complete the
symmetry, being left out. And the Monkshood (Fig. 242-244) has five very
dissimilar sepals, and a corolla of only two very small and
curiously-shaped petals,--the three needed to make up the symmetry being
left out. The stamens in both are out of symmetry with the ground-plan,
being numerous. So are the pistils, which are usually diminished to
three, sometimes to two or to one.

255. =Flowers with Multiplication of Parts= are very common. The stamens
are indefinitely numerous in Larkspur and in Monkshood (Fig. 242, 243),
while the pistils are fewer than the ground-plan suggests. Most
Cactus-flowers have all the organs much increased in number (Fig. 229),
and so of the Water-Lily. In Anemone (Fig. 233) the stamens and pistils
are multiplied while the petals are left out. In Buttercups or Crowfoot,
while the sepals and petals conform to the ground-plan of five, both
stamens and pistils are indefinitely multiplied (Fig. 245).

[Illustration: Fig. 245. Flower of Ra