WILD GERANIUM 



Fruit. — Five carpels, dry, slender, long-tailed by the 

 persistent style divisions and separating from the axis by 

 the curling back of the style from the base, which ejects 

 the seeds some distance from the plant. 



Pollinated by bees and butterflies. Nectar-bearing. 

 Stamens mature before the stigmas. 



"Wildwood Geraniums ; 



All in their best, * 



Languidly leaning 

 In purple gauze dressed." 



— Clara Smith. 



The Wild Geranium is really a sturdy plant, but the 

 wide-spread, five-petalled blossom is delicate both in 

 texture and appearance. The petals open an exquisite 

 rose-purple; the ten stamens reclining upon their 

 breast await the summons of life; in the centre the 

 style stands as a thick column. As soon as the corolla 

 is fully opened five stamens raise themselves around 

 the style, and one after another the anthers open and 

 pour out their pollen. After these the other five 

 arise, pour out their pollen, and then, the anthers' 

 service being ended, they wither and pass away. The 

 insect visitors of this period eat nectar and carry away 

 pollen. 



In the meantime the petals continue their honey 

 call to the bees and the pistil awakens. The central 

 column opens its five arms and the stigmas stand out 

 like rays, ready to brush off and retain upon their 

 sticky surface any pollen a nectar-seeking bee may 

 have gathered upon her hairy coat. The life of the 

 flower is usually two or three days; the first day the 

 insects get pollen, which they carry to older blossoms; 



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