Flo, among botanists and gardeners, the most beautiful part of trees and plants, containing the organs or parts of fructification,

Though no parts of plants are more generally known than their flowers, yet the definitions given by different authors of this word are very various, and necessary to be explained in order to the understanding of their works. Jungius defines it to be the most tender part of a plant, remarkable for its colour or form, or for both, and cohering with the fruit. But this author himself acknowledges his definition to be too limited, as there are several plants whose flowers are produced remote from their fruit. Mr Ray says the flowers cohere for the most part with the rudiments of the fruit; which is likewise a phraseology too inaccurate to be admitted in definitions. Tournefort defines the flower to be a part of a plant very often remarkable for its peculiar colours, for the most part adhering to the young fruit, to which it seems to afford the first nourishment, in order to explicate its most tender parts: but this is still a more indeterminate definition than the former.—Pontedera defines a flower to be a part of a plant, unlike the rest in form and nature. If the flower has a tube, it adheres to or is fixed very near the embryo, to the use of which it is subservient; but if the flower has no tube, then its base does not adhere to the embryo. This definition is scarce intelligible, except to expert botanists. Jullien defines a flower to be composed of chives and a pistillum, and to be of use in the generation of the plant: but this definition is too imperfect, as there are many plants in which the pistillum are found at a great distance from the chives, many flowers which have no pistillum, and many which have no chives. Vaillant has been happier in his definition. He says, that flowers are the organs which constitute the sexes of plants, which are sometimes found naked, and without any covering; and that the petals which most of them have, are noway essential to their use, but serve, and are intended, merely as covers for them: but yet, as these coats or coverings are the most conspicuous and most beautiful parts of the flowers, these are to be called flowers, be they of whatever form or structure or colour; and whether they contain the organs of both sexes in each individual, or only of one, or even but of some part of one, provided they are not of the same figure and colour with the leaves of the plant. The shortest and most express definition, however, seems to be that of Martin; which is, that flowers are the organs of generation of both sexes, adhering to a common placenta, together with their common covering; or of either sex separately with its proper coverings if it have any.

The parts of flowers are, 1. The pistillum or ovary, which is the rudiment of the fruit, and is therefore properly the organ of generation. 2. The style, which is a body accompanying the ovary; either arising from the middle of it, or standing as an axis in the middle, with the embryos of the seeds round it. 3. The stamens, called also apices, and antherae, which are those bodies that contain the prolific powder analogous to the male sperm of animals, and generally hung upon slender threads which are called the chives. 4. The petals, commonly called the flower-leaves, which are those tender fine-coloured leaves that are generally the most conspicuous parts of a flower. 5. The empalement or calyx, which is formed of these tender leaves that cover the outer parts of the flower. Flowers, according to the number of their leaves or petals, are called monopetalous, or one-leaved; dipetalous, or two-leaved, &c.

The structure of different flowers is very various; but Dr Grew has observed that the far greater number of them have the empalement, foliation, chives, &c. Mr Ray accounts that every perfect flower has the petals, stamina or chives, apices or summits, and the style or pistil; and such as want any of these he calls imperfect flowers. The greater number of plants have a flower-cup; which is of a firmer structure than their leaves, and serves for their support.

Flowers, designed for medicinal use, should be plucked when they are moderately blown, and on a clear day before noon: for conserves, roses must be taken in the bud.

Eternal Flower. See Xeranthemum.

Everlasting Flower. See Gnaphalium.

Flower-Fence. See Poinciana.

Sun-Flower. See Helianthus.

Sultan-Flower. See Cyanus.

Trumpet-Flower. See Bignonia.

Wind Flower. See Anemone.

Flower-de-Lace. See Iris.