Flower \Flow"er\ (flou"[~e]r), n. [OE. flour, OF. flour,
         flur,
   flor, F. fleur, fr. L. flos, floris. Cf. Blossom,
   Effloresce,
         Floret, Florid,
         Florin, Flour,
  
         Flourish.]
  
         1. In the popular sense, the bloom or blossom of a plant;
         the
      showy portion, usually of a different color,
         shape, and
      texture from the foliage.
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         Webster]

   2. (Bot.) That part of a plant destined to
         produce seed, and
      hence including one or both of the
         sexual organs; an organ
      or combination of the organs
         of reproduction, whether
      inclosed by a circle of
         foliar parts or not. A complete
      flower consists of
         two essential parts, the stamens and
      the pistil, and
         two floral envelopes, the corolla and
      callyx. In
         mosses the flowers consist of a few special
      leaves
         surrounding or subtending organs called archegonia.
     
         See Blossom, and
         Corolla.
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         Webster]

   Note: If we examine a
         common flower, such for instance as a
         geranium, we shall find that it consists of: First, an
         outer envelope or calyx, sometimes tubular, sometimes
         consisting of separate leaves called sepals; secondly,
         an inner envelope or corolla, which is generally more
         or less colored, and which, like the calyx, is
         sometimes tubular, sometimes composed of separate
         leaves called petals; thirdly, one or more stamens,
         consisting of a stalk or filament and a head or anther,
         in which the pollen is produced; and fourthly, a
         pistil, which is situated in the center of the flower,
         and consists generally of three principal parts; one or
         more compartments at the base, each containing one or
         more seeds; the stalk or style; and the stigma, which
         in many familiar instances forms a small head, at the
         top of the style or ovary, and to which the pollen must
         find its way in order to fertilize the flower. --Sir J.
         Lubbock.
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   3. The fairest, freshest, and choicest
         part of anything; as,
      the flower of an army, or of a
         family; the state or time
      of freshness and bloom; as,
         the flower of life, that is,
      youth.
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         Webster]

            The choice and flower of all things profitable the
            Psalms do more briefly contain.       --Hooker.
     
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            The flower of the chivalry of all Spain. --Southey.
    
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            A simple maiden in her flower
            Is worth a hundred coats of arms.     --Tennyson.
     
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   4. Grain pulverized; meal; flour.
         [Obs.]
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            The flowers of grains, mixed with water, will make a
            sort of glue.                         --Arbuthnot.
     
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   5. pl. (Old Chem.) A substance in the
         form of a powder,
      especially when condensed from
         sublimation; as, the
      flowers of sulphur.
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         Webster]

   6. A figure of speech; an ornament of
         style.
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   7. pl. (Print.)
         Ornamental type used chiefly for borders
      around
         pages, cards, etc. --W. Savage.
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         8. pl. Menstrual discharges. --Lev. xv. 24.
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         Webster]

   Animal
         flower (Zool.) See under
         Animal.

   {Cut
         flowers}, flowers cut from the stalk,
         as for making a
      bouquet.

   Flower bed, a plat
         in a garden for the cultivation of
      flowers.

  
         Flower beetle
         (Zool.), any beetle which feeds upon
         flowers,
      esp. any one of numerous small species of
         the genus
      Meligethes, family
         Nitidulid[ae],
         some
         of which are
      injurious to crops.

   Flower bird
         (Zool.), an Australian bird of the genus
      Anthornis,
         allied to the honey eaters.

   Flower bud, an unopened
         flower.

   Flower
         clock, an assemblage of flowers which
         open and close
      at different hours of the day, thus
         indicating the time.
      

   Flower head (Bot.), a
         compound flower in which all the
      florets are sessile
         on their receptacle, as in the case of
      the daisy.


           Flower pecker
         (Zool.), one of a family (Dic[ae]id[ae])
         of
      small Indian and Australian birds. They resemble
         humming
      birds in habits.

   Flower piece.
     
         (a) A table ornament made of cut flowers.
      (b) (Fine
         Arts) A picture of flowers.

   Flower stalk (Bot.),
         the
         peduncle of a plant, or the stem
      that supports the
         flower or fructification.
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