Calisthenics

“ Meiotaxy of the calyx.—As already mentioned, this term is here employed to denote those illustrations in which entire whorls are suppressed. Complete deficiency of the calyx in a dichlamydeous flower seems seldom or ever to occur; the nearest approach to it would be in those cases where the calyx is, as it is termed, "obsolete," but here it is chiefly the limb of the calyx which is atrophied, the lower portion being more or less adherent to the ovary. In what are termed monochlamydeous flowers both calyx and corolla are wanting, as in Salicineæ and many other orders. ”

“ Comparatively rarely do we find all the organs present; but when two flowers are united together we find every possible variety between the number of parts naturally belonging to the two flowers and that belonging to a single one. Sometimes instances are met with wherein the calyx does not present the normal number of parts, while the other parts of the flower are in excess. I have seen in a Calceolaria a single calyx, with the ordinary number of sepals, enclosing two corollas, adherent simply by their upper lips, and containing stamens and pistils in the usual way. ”

“ Calyx four-parted, covered with appressed pubes cence; claws linear, yellow, the spoon shaped segments of the limb reddish, nodding. Anthers elliptical, subsessile in the cavities of the calyx. Style twice as long as the calyx, shining, of a deep purple colour except at the base and apex, where it is yellow, deciduous, rigid, apex nodding. Stigma an abrupt, glandular, scarcely-swollen termination to the style, retained for a time within the calyx, as in the other species, and when liberated, covered with the yellow, granular pollen, which gives it a capitate form. ”

“ The repetition of the cauline or spathe-leaf in the flower is the Calyx. It does not stand therefore at the base of the peduncle, but towards its summit, and is the external bud of the blossom; it is mostly spathiform, rarely or but slightly cloven, and very rarely polysepalous; it is generally green like the leaves. Although the calyx is no essential organ in itself, still it is rarely wanting and is often itself the supporter of the corolla and stamina. ”

“ Pelmatozoa with respiratory organs in the form of longitudinal calcified folds, termed "hydrospires," radiating from the mouth. Stem well developed; calyx regular, consisting of a whorl of basals surmounted by a whorl of forked radiais, in the clefts of which lay the recumbent radial water-vascular vessels, supported each on a special plate ("lancet plate") , and giving off two rows of branches supported by short fingers (Fig. 279) . Side-plates and covering plates were also developed; five orals ("deltoids") completed the calyx. The anus was at the side, just beneath one of the orals. ”

“ The normal coloration of the calyx occurs most frequently in polysepalous calyces; teratological coloration, on the other hand, occurs especially in gamosepalous flowers. This assertion is borne out by the frequency of the change in the plants already mentioned, and also in the following:—Campanula persicifolia, Anagallis arvensis, Gloxinia, Syringa persica, [297] Calceolaria, &c. &c. In the last-named plant one or more of the lobes of the calyx may frequently be seen replaced by a slipper-like petal. ”

“ Flowers axillary, solitary or racemose. Calyx-tube short, lobes 4–5. Petals 4–5, rarely wanting, inserted on the throat of the calyx. Corona of one or several rings of coloured filaments arising from the calyx-tube. Stamens as many as the calyx-lobes; filaments adnate to the stalk of the ovary; anthers versatile. Ovary superior, elevated on a long stalk or gynophore, 1-celled; styles 3; stigmas capitate. Fruit succulent or pulpy, indehiscent or obscurely 3-valved.
A large genus of over 120 species, chiefly tropical, and most plentiful in South America. ”

“ In the centre is a group of carpels; outside them—in other words, slightly lower on the stem—a ring, or two rings, of stamens, few or many; then a ring of petals, forming the corolla, usually coloured, leaf-like, and conspicuous; and outside of them a ring of sepals, forming the calyx, generally green and leaf-like. The main function of the calyx is protective; it encloses the essential organs and guards them till they are mature, when the flower opens and stamen and stigma play their parts. ”

“ Tissues which may become calcified are, in the first instance, the connective tissues, and of these fibrous tissue and cartilage are especially liable. Epithelial, muscle—in particular the unstriped variety—and ganglion-cells may also become calcified. The frequency with which blood-vessels, especially arteries, are affected is such that it is regarded as almost normal in advancing years that calcareous material should be deposited within the vascular walls. ”

“ An isotonic solution (m/6) of sodium sulphate or sodium citrate would be most favorable for this purpose.
The possible uses to which our knowledge of the action of calcium may be put has aroused some discussion. The fact that it suppresses muscular and nervous irritability (Loeb) , and as shown in the experiments above, inhibits the muscular and glandular activity of the intestine, as well as the secretory activity of the kidney, makes it seem probable that some practical use may be made of it in certain conditions in the human being. ”

“ Mr. Salisbury's rule, given in the first paper of our 8th volume, that the stamens are never inserted into the calyx, is one of the best upon the subject, yet not without its difficulties, some of which, from a love of truth alone, I beg leave to suggest. If we admit this rule in rosaceous flowers, and the more I have thought on the subject the more I feel disposed to do so, we can hardly allow it in Ribes, whose whole faded calyx, perfectly homogeneous and indivisible, sticks to the top of the fruit, retaining the withered petals and stamens, which are together inserted into its sides. ”

“ The Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis Jalapa) , and the other species of that genus, are the only ornamental plants belonging to this order. The flowers consist of a coloured calyx, surrounded by a five-toothed involucre, which greatly resembles a calyx. The true calyx is funnel-shaped, with a spreading limb, the lobes of which are plaited, and notched at the margin; and which, with the tubular part, form at the base a globular swelling, which incloses the ovary. The stamens grow from beneath the pistil, adhering together at the base, so as to form a kind of cup. The ovary contains only one seed ”

“ It is particularly in the study of the calyx that the attentive eye is struck by those proteiform movements in which nature makes sport of our absolute rules.
For example: in the Berberis vulgaris, the young calicinal leaflets have less resemblance to the bracts than to the petals of the corolla, and hence they have received the name of petaloid sepals. In other flowers this morphogenic wavering inclines towards the bracts rather than towards the corolla. ”

“ While the terms atrophy and abortion apply in the main to a mere diminution of size, as contrasted with the ordinary standard, degeneration may be understood to apply to those cases in which not only is the absolute bulk diminished, but the whole form is altered and depauperated. Degeneration, thus, is the result not so much of a deficiency in growth as of a perversion of development.
Under natural, i.e. habitual circumstances, the formation of pappus in place of a leafy calyx may be considered as an illustration of degeneration. ”

“ In all of these solutions twitchings developed in the muscle. Magnesium and strontium act like calcium in inhibiting the muscular twitchings produced by sodium salts. These experiments led Loeb to the conclusion that the presence of [Pg 40] calcium in the body keeps the voluntary muscles from constantly twitching or beating rhythmically in the way the heart does. Calcium, magnesium, and strontium seemed to have a definite inhibitory action on the muscular contractions. ”

“ The fourth is the calix inclosing the stamina and pistil, round which last they form a fruit or grain. The fifth is the flower stript of its calix, where is seen the germ, the stamina, and the pistil. The sixth is the stamina magnified to twice their size. The seventh is the lower leaf. The eighth, the upper leaf of the flower. The ninth, the germ, or rudiment of the fruit, with the pistil joined to it, at the bottom of which there is a small cavity. The tenth is the seed or fruit entire. The eleventh represents the inside of the seed cut in half. ”

“ It is proper to a labiate flower,—first, that it has a one-leaved calyx (ut calycem habeat unifolium) , for the most part tubulated, or reminding one of a paper hood (cucullum papyraceum) ; and, secondly, that its pistil ripens into a fruit consisting of four seeds, which ripen in the calyx itself, as if in their own seed-vessel, by which a labiate flower is distinguished from a personate one, whose pistil becomes a capsule far divided from the calyx (à calyce longò divisam) . ”

“ It does not seem probable that rickets is caused by too little calcium in the food, but rather by the inability of the bone tissue to utilize the calcium brought to it in the body fluids. Experiments upon the causation of the disease have not given uniform results, and it does not seem possible at present to place responsibility for this condition upon any particular form of diet, such as deficiency of fat or excess of carbohydrates or protein. ”

“ These granules, interpreted as being composed of calcium, were found in the muscles of the limbs, of the tongue, and in the heart. It is reasonable to attribute their formation to an absorption of bone throughout the body. Similar calcium deposits were seen frequently in the adrenal glands, in their cortex, or at the border of the cortex and medulla. This lesion gains special interest in view of the calcium deposits described so frequently in connection with mercurial poisoning, more particularly as the symptoms of scurvy and of this toxic condition have marked clinical resemblances. ”

“ If we wish to conform to the truth, as brought before us by nature, we must revolutionize our terminology. Instead of speaking of bipartite, tripartite, quadripartite, or of bilobed and trilobed calices,—terms all signifying that the monophyllous calyx is cloven more or less deeply from top to bottom, we must say that the calyx in such and such a species has its leaflets united at the base, or one third, fourth, or half of its height; the polyphyllous or polysepalous calyx will be that whose leaflets remain detached, as was the case in the monophyllous or monosepalous calyx. ”

“ Chiefly herbs, of homely aspect, more or less succulent, with mostly alternate leaves and no stipules nor scarious bracts, minute greenish flowers, with the free calyx imbricated in the bud; the stamens as many as its lobes, or occasionally fewer, and inserted opposite them or on their base; the 1-celled ovary becoming a 1-seeded thin utricle or rarely an achene. Embryo coiled into a ring around the mealy albumen, when there is any, or else conduplicate, or spiral.—Calyx persistent, mostly enclosing the fruit. ”

“ What elements of the calyx do these transformations represent? The veins, and notably the midrib of the limb of the sepals, united underneath.
[220]
The free foliola of the polyphyllous calyx may vary in form, like the caulinary leaves whence they issue by way of metamorphosis; they may be oval, elliptical, linear, &c. Yet none have ever been observed of a heart-shape (cordiform) .
Certain foliola of the polyphyllous calyx affect fantastic outlines. In the Delphinium, the upper sepal is prolonged into a spur. In the aconites it is hollow like a helmet. ”

“ Stamens many, springing from the side of the tube or throat of the calyx, sometimes joined to the petals, generally equal in length; anthers small and oblong. Ovary smooth, or covered with scales and spines, or woolly, one-celled; style simple, filiform or cylindrical, with a stigma of two or more spreading rays, upon which are small papillae. Fruit pulpy, smooth, scaly, or spiny, the pulp soft and juicy, sweet or acid, and full of numerous small, usually black, seeds.
Tribe I.—Calyx tube produced beyond the Ovary. Stem covered with Tubercles, or Ribs, bearing Spines. ”

“ The lower end of the calyx (hypanthium) has a compressed form; it is solid but has its internal tissue far more porous than the walls. The whole calyx is of a deep rich brown, has a dull wrinkled surface, a dense fleshy texture, and abounds in essential oil which exudes on simple pressure with the nail. Cloves have an agreeable spicy odour, and a strong biting aromatic taste. ”

“ Calyx petal-like, equally 5-parted, withering and nearly unchanged in fruit. Stamens 8. Styles 3; stigmas capitate. Achene 3-sided, longer than the calyx. Embryo large, in the centre of the albumen, which it divides into 2 parts, with very broad and foliaceous plaited and twisted cotyledons.—Glabrous annuals, with triangular-heart-shaped or halberd-shaped leaves, semicylindrical sheaths, and corymbose racemes or panicles of white flowers, often tinged with green or rose-color. ”

“ But this thing I know, and this what we call an-cailleach-uisge” (the siren or water-witch) ; “the cailliach, mind you, not the maighdeann-mhàra” (the mermaid) , “who means no harm. May she hear my saying it! The cailliach is old and clad in weeds, but her voice is young, and she always sits so that the light is in the eyes of the beholder. She seems to him young also, and fair. She has two familiars in the form of seals, one black as the grave, and the other white as the shroud that is in the grave; and these sometimes upset a boat, if the sailor laughs at the uisge-cailliach’s song. ”