604 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



The seed-vessel stands up, a stout, three-sided, pale green column at 

 the center of the flower, in some varieties, its three-lobed yellowish stigma 

 making a Doric capital; in others, the divisions are so curled as to make 

 the capital almost Ionian. The six stout, paddle-shaped stamens have 

 their bases expanded so as to encircle completely the base of the pistil 

 column; these white filaments are narrower just below the point where 

 the large anthers join. The anther opens along each side to discharge the 

 pollen ; however, the anthers flare out around the seed vessel and do not 

 reach half way to the stigma, which is probably the tulips' way of inducing 

 the insects to carry their pollen, since the bees cannot reach the nectar at 

 the base of the pistil without dusting themselves with pollen. 



The flower stem is stout, pale green, covered with a whitish bloom. 

 The leaves are long, trough-shaped and narrow with parallel veins; the 

 bases of the low r er ones encircle the flower stem and have their edges more 

 or less ruffled and their tips recurved ; the upper leaves do not completely 

 encircle the flower stem at their bases. The texture of the leaves is some- 

 what softer on the inside than on the outside, and both sides are grayish- 

 green. 



After the petals and stamens are dropped 

 the seed-vessel looks like an ornamental tip 

 to the flower stem; it is three-sided, and 

 has within double rows of seeds along each 

 angle. * The seeds should not be allowed to 

 ripen as they thus take too much strength 

 from the bulbs. 



The bulb is formed of several coats, or 

 layers, each of which extends upwards and 

 .may grow into a leaf; this shows that the 

 bulb is made up of leaves which are 

 thickened with the food which is stored up 

 in them during one season, so as to start the 

 plant growing early the next spring. In 

 the heart of each bulb is a flower bud, 

 sheltered and cuddled by the fleshy leaf- 

 layers around it, which protect it during 

 the winter and furnish it food in the spring. 

 This structure of the bulb explains why the 

 leaves clasp the flower stem at their bases. 



, seed-capsule; ,, the same open- The true roots are below the bulb, making 

 ed; 3 , cross section of same. a thick tassel of white rootlets, which reach 



deep into the soil for food and water. 



Tulips are very accommodating; they will grow in almost any soil if 

 it is well drained, so that excessive moisture may not rot the bulbs. In 

 preparing a bed, it should be rounded up so as to shed water; it should 

 also be worked deep and made rich. If the soil is stiff and clayey, set 

 bulbs only three inches deep, with a handful of sand beneath each. If the 

 soil is mellow loam, set the bulbs four inches deep and from four to six 

 inches apart each way, depending on the size of the bulbs. They should 

 be near enough so that when they blossom the bed will be covered and 

 show no gaps. Take care that the pointed tip of the bulb is upward and 

 that it does not fall to one side as it is covered. October is the usual time 

 for planting as the beds are often used for other flowers during the summer. 



\ 



Tulip seed-capsule. 



, Tuli 



