Teachers' Leaflet. 579 



be discussed while the flowers are lifting up and unfolding and fading. After the 

 flower has been studied it should be cared for until the proper time comes for 

 planting it in some shady spot near the school. The point of interest in choosing 

 a place for this plant is that it needs shade during the heat of the summer, and it 

 may well be the first lesson in teaching the pupils that some plants need constant 

 sunshine, while others cannot endure it. 



LESSON CXLV. 



THE HEPATICA BLOSSOM. 



Purpose. — To call attention to the development of the hepatica 

 flowers. 



First note that the blossom buds are cuddled down in the center of 

 the plant and protected by the leaf stems ; these buds were formed in the 

 autumn, so as to be ready to stretch up and blossom when the first warmth 

 of spring should reach them. Note that the stems and the bracts in which 

 the flower is hidden are soft and downv. While this down is not for 

 the purpose of keeping the plant warm as furs might keep us warm, yet 

 it acts as a blanket to prevent too rapid transpiration, which is a cooling 

 process. Note that on dark days and during the night the blossoms close 

 until they become old and faded when they remain open all the time. 

 It is an interesting point that these flowers close except at those times 

 when bees would be likely to visit them and thus save their pollen ; but 

 after the pollen has been distributed and the seeds fertilized they do not 

 need to remain closed any longer. Ask the pupils if bees and other 

 insects are seen flying during dark days in early spring. Have the pupils 

 make a color sketch of a flower when open, so as to be sure they see 

 accurately the number of petals. A technical fact which the teacher 

 should know, although she may not see fit to confuse the younger pupils' 

 minds with it, is that what we call petals in the hepatica are really 

 delicate, colored sepals ; the flower has no petals. The three sepal-like 

 bracts, which enclose the flower in the bud are not sepals, and if you 

 examine them closely you will see that they come off from the stem a 

 little distance down from the flower. Note if all the flowers are the same 

 color, and if they fade as they grow older. Note whether the flowers 

 are more fragrant when first opened than later on, and teach the pupils 

 that fragrance is an attraction to the insects. There is probably little 

 or no nectar secreted in the hepatica. The bees are quite as fond of pollen 

 as they are of nectar, especially after their long winter fast, so it is not 

 necessary for the early spring flowers to secrete nectar in order to entice 

 the insects. The pupils should look through the lens and see the anthers 

 shedding their pollen, and also the pistils at the center of the plant. They 

 should see these so as to be able to watch the development of the seed. 



