269. =Adnation, or Consolidation=, is the union of the members of parts belonging to different circles of the flower (256). It is of course understood that in this (as likewise in coalescence) the parts are not formed and then conjoined, but are produced in union. They are born united, as the term _adnate_ implies. To illustrate this kind of union, take the accompanying series of flowers (Fig. 270-274), shown in vertical section. In the first, Fig. 270, Flax-flower, there is no adnation; sepals, petals, and stamens, are _free_ as well as distinct, being separately borne on the receptacle, one circle within or above the next; only the five pistils have their ovaries coalescent. In Fig. 271, a Cherry-flower, the petals and stamens are borne on the throat of the calyx-tube; that is, the sepals are coalescent into a cup, and the petals and stamens are adnate to the inner face of this; in other words, the sepals, petals, and stamens are all consolidated up to a certain height. In Fig. 272, a Purslane-flower, the same parts are adnate to or consolidated with the ovary up to its middle. In Fig. 273, a Hawthorn-flower, the consolidation has extended over the whole ovary; and petals and stamens are adnate to the calyx still further. In Fig. 274, a Cranberry-blossom, it is the same except that all the parts are free at the same height; all seem to arise from the top of the ovary. 270. In botanical description, to express tersely such differences in the relation of these organs to the pistil, they are said to be _Hypogynous_ (i. e. under the pistil) when they are all _free_, that is, not adnate to pistil nor connate with each other, as in Fig. 270. [Illustration: Fig. 270. Flax-flower in section; the parts all free,--hypogynous.] _Perigynous_ (around the pistil) when connate with each other, that is, when petals and stamens are _inserted_ or borne on the calyx, whether as in Cherry-flowers (Fig. 271) they are free from the pistil, or as in Purslane and Hawthorn (Fig. 272, 273) they are also adnate below to the ovary. [Illustration: Fig. 271. Cherry-flower in section; petals and stamens adnate to tube of calyx,--perigynous.] [Illustration: Fig. 272. Purslane-flower in section; calyx, petals, stamens, all adnate to lower half of ovary,--perigynous.] _Epigynous_ (on the ovary) when so adnate that all these parts appear to arise from the very summit of the ovary, as in Fig. 274. The last two terms are not very definitely distinguished. 271. Another and a simpler form of expression is to describe parts of the flower as being _Free_, when not united with or _inserted_ upon other parts. _Distinct_, when parts of the same kind are not united. This term is the counterpart of coalescent, as free is the counterpart of adnate. Many writers use the term "free" indiscriminately for both; but it is better to distinguish them.