642 Handbook of Nalure-Study 



But even though the petunia flowers are especially adapted to the 

 delectation of hummingbird moths, our bees which like man have 

 claimed all the earth, will work industriously in the petunias, scrambling 

 into the blossoms with much remonstrating, high-pitched buzzing because 

 of the tight fit, and thus rifle the nectar-wells that were meant for insects 

 of quite different build. 



The leaves of the petunia are so broadly ovate as to be almost lozenge- 

 shape, especially the lower ones; they are soft, and have prominent veins 

 on the lower side; they are without stipules, and have short flat petioles. 

 The stems are soft and fuzzy and are usually decumbent at the base, 

 except the central stems of a stool or clump which, though surrounded by 

 kneeling sisters, seem to prefer to stand up straight. 



The flower stems come off at the axils of the leaves, the lower flowers 

 open first. The blossoms remain open about two days; at the first sign 

 of fading, the lobes of the corolla droop dejectedly like a frill that has lost 

 its starch, and finally the corolla tube and all drops off, leaving a little 

 conical seed-capsule nestled snugly in the heart of the bell-shaped calyx. 

 At this time, if this peaked cap of the seed-capsule be removed, the many 

 seeds look like tiny white pearls set upon the fleshy, conical placenta. As 

 the capsule ripens, it grows brown and glossy like glazed manila paper and 

 it is nearly as thin ; then it cracks precisely down its middle, and the seeds 

 are spilled out at any stirring of the stems. The ripe seeds are dark 

 brown, almost as fine as dust, and yet, when examined with a lens, they 

 are seen to be exquisitely netted and pitted. 



References The Survival of the Unlike, L. H. Bailey; The Encyclo- 

 pedia of Horticulture, Bailey; Our Garden Flowers, Harriet Keeler. 



LESSON CLXIII 

 THE PETUNIA 



Leading thought The petunias have an interesting history being 

 native to South America. Their flowers are fitted by form and mechanism 

 to entice the hummingbird moths as visitors, and to use them for carrying 

 pollen. 



Method The petunias are such determined bloomers that they give us 

 flowers up to the time of killing frosts, and they are therefore good material 

 for nature lessons. Each pupil should have a flower in hand to observe 

 during the lesson, and should also have access to a petunia bed for 

 observations on the habits of the plant. 



Observations i. What colors do you find in the petunia flowers? If 

 striped or otherwise marked, what are the colors? Are the markings 

 symmetrical and regular? 



2. Sketch or describe a flower, looking into it. What is the shape of 

 the corolla-lobes? How many lobes are there? How are they veined? 

 What peculiar markings are at the throat of the flower? 



3. W T hat are the color and position of the stigma? How are the 

 stamens arranged? How many anthers do you see? What is the color 

 of the anthers? Of the pollen? 



4. Sketch or describe the flower from the side. What is the shape of 

 the corolla-tube? Is it smooth or fuzzy? How is it marked? What are 

 the number and shape of the sepals, or lobes, of the calyx? 



