21. Which is so, indeed, in all the loveliest flowers; and, in usual botanical parlance, a flower is said to consist of its calyx, (or _hiding_ part--Calypso having rule over it,) and corolla, or garland part, Proserpina having rule over it. But it is better to think of them always as separate; for this calyx, very justly so named from its main function of concealing the flower, in its youth is usually green, not coloured, and shows its separate nature by pausing, or at least greatly lingering, in its growth, and modifying itself very slightly, while the corolla is forming {81} itself through active change. Look at the two, for instance, through the youth of a pease blossom, Fig. 8. [Illustration: FIG. 8.] The entire cluster at first appears pendent in this manner, the stalk bending round on purpose to put it into that position. On which all the little buds, thinking themselves ill-treated, determine not to submit to anything of the sort, turn their points upward persistently, and determine that--at any cost of trouble--they will get nearer the sun. Then they begin to open, and let out their corollas. I give the process of one only (Fig. 9).[24] It chances to be engraved the reverse way from the bud; but that is of no consequence. [Illustration: FIG. 9.] At first, you see the long lower point of the calyx thought that _it_ was going to be the head of the family, and curls upwards eagerly. Then the little corolla steals out; and soon does away with that impression on the mind of the calyx. The corolla soars up with widening wings, the abashed calyx retreats beneath; and finally the great upper leaf of corolla--not pleased at having its back still {82} turned to the light, and its face down--throws itself entirely back, to look at the sky, and nothing else;--and your blossom is complete. Keeping, therefore, the ideas of calyx and corolla entirely distinct, this one general point you may note of both: that, as a calyx is originally folded tight over the flower, and has to open deeply to let it out, it is nearly always composed of sharp pointed leaves like the segments of a balloon; while corollas, having to open out as wide as possible to show themselves, are typically like cups or plates, only cut into their edges here and there, for ornamentation's sake.