O UR NORTHERN AUTUMN 



both pollen and stigmas have disappeared, and 

 the fertilized seeds are growing toward maturity; 

 next comes a circle of florets two or three deep, 

 where the curved stigma lobes protrude from 

 the anther tubes, and within that circle is an- 

 other where the pollen is being pushed out of 

 the anther tubes, while at the centre are the 

 buds. While the hundreds of florets are de- 

 veloping the rays continue strong and vigorous, 

 giving the honey-call to the bees, and they do 

 not collapse until their work is completely done, 

 which is not until the last disk- floret has bloomed. 

 It is possible to estimate the length of life be- 

 fore a composite-head by noting what stage of 

 bloom the disk-florets have reached. If floret 

 buds are few the rays will soon collapse. The 

 fruit of Composites is called a seed, but it is 

 really an akene, that is, a dry shell with a single 

 seed within. The Garden Sunflower is typical 

 of this entire floral group of Radiate-Composites, 

 sometimes called the Thistle Family. 



The characteristic flowers of September and 

 October belong largely to this group, though of 



7 



