Teachers' Leaflet. 577 



as many kinds as possible. In each case they should Ijring in leaves with the blos- 

 soms. Each pupil should have one or more species of violet on his desk before 

 this lesson is given. 



LESSON CXLIL 



THE VIOLET BLOSSOM. 



Purpose. — To call attention to the peculiarities of the flower of the 

 violet. 



Note that whatever the color or however different the shape of the 

 blossoms of two species of violets, they resemble each other in the follow- 

 ing points : There are five petals, one differing in shape from the others. 

 extending back in a closed tube. Note that always on this lower petal 

 are lines which converge towards the opening of the tube. At the tip end 

 of this tube, which extends back behind the sepals is secreted the nectar. 

 Most children know this from having bitten off the tip of the tube. By 

 the way, this tube is the part which enables the boys to " fight roosters " 

 with these flowers, as it acts as a hook in this unnatural diversion. Explain 

 to the pupils that the nectar is put at the tip end of this tube so that the 

 insects in reaching it are obliged to pass the door where both the anthers 

 and the pistil stand guard, and are thus sure to be dusted with pollen from 

 the former and are likely to deposit it on the latter. Through a lens 

 note that there are five anthers " holding hands " around the entrance of 

 the tube. Get the pupils to note which insects are most active in visiting 

 the violet. Note that the tubes of some species are very short so that 

 the bees are able to reach the nectar ; but the butterflies do a large share 

 of the work of pollen carrying for the violets, since the butterfly tongue 

 can be unrolled and pushed the whole length of the tube of even Viola 

 rostratra, whose slender spur is longer than its pale, lavender petals. Ask 

 the pupils to look very closely at the base of the violet plants for the 

 little flowers which never open, and which self-fertilized produce seed. 



LESSON CXLIIL 



THE FRUITING OF THE VIOLET. 



Purpose. — To call attention to the seeds of the violet. 



This may be done by watching the blossom of a potted violet as the 

 seeds develop. Note that there is a three-lobed pod ; that after a time 

 the pod splits into three parts, each section holding several seeds. After 

 a little the sections dry and shrink together, thus pinching the seeds so 

 that they are thrown out. (See " Seed Dispersal," W. J. Bcal, p. 59.) 



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