42 



STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The pistil is (Fig. IV, a, b, c, e) generally an elongated organ with a 

 swelling at the lower end, known as the ovary, which may contain a single 

 chamber or it may be divided into from two to many cells. These 

 ehambers contain the ovules which develop into seeds. ( Fig. IV, b, f, g. ) 

 The upper portion of the pistil lacks any epidermal covering, and is known 

 as the stigma. This is covered with a sticky substance, and, unless it is 

 situated on the ovary itself, it is connected with it by a slender filament, 

 the style. 



a 



• St.q 



tbf?t 



■ ■OVtTV 



Fia. IV. 



a, Pistil of primrose. 



b, Same with p*)rt of ovary cut away showing the ovules attached to the firee 



central placenta. 



c, Pistil of lily. 



d, Section of strawberry showing the pistils attached to the fleshy torus, to ca. 



Calyx. 



e, Single pistil of same, enlarged. 

 /, Section of raspberry. 



<7, Section of a rose flower. 



The other essential organs are known as stamens ( Fig. II, b, c, d ) 

 and consist of two parts, a slender stalk or stem, called the filament, and a 

 knob at the top, the anther. 



Many flowers contain both stamens and pistils, and are then said to be 

 perfect; but in other cases we find the stamens and pistils in different 

 flowers, on the same plant, or perhaps on different plants. 



The anther is usually in two parts, and its function is to develop in *its 

 cells a fine, yellow dust known as pollen (Fig. II., b). These grains are 

 very minute and are produced in great abundance. Every farmer has seen 

 the fine, dust-like grains covering the ground in his corn fields, and in 

 some of our pine forests it is produced in such quantities that it is carried 

 miles by the wind and falls like snow in a storm. 



The pollen grains (Fig. III., a-g) are generally round or elliptical, but 

 in some species they are covered with spines, in others they are grooved, 

 or they may be compound, with two or more fastened together. 



