^34 



Home Nature-Study Course. 



distinguishing mark. The Vio- 

 let has five petals, one pair 

 above and one at either side 

 and one broad lower petal 

 which gives the bees and but- 

 terflies a resting place when 

 they are seeking the nectar. 

 The spur is formed of the 

 lower petal and extends back 

 behind the flower; its length 

 is characteristic of the species. 

 The spur is the nectary of the 

 flower and in order to reach 

 the nectar, which is at the tip 

 end of the spur, the in.sect 

 must thrust its tongue through 

 a little door guarded by both 

 the anthers and pistil, so that 

 the insect is thus laden with 

 pollen and, carries it from flower 

 to flower. In many of the 

 species the petals at the side 

 have a little fringe which forms 

 an arch over the door or 

 "throat" leading to the nectar. 

 This fringe is apparently useful 

 in brushing the pollen from 

 the tongue of the insect 

 visitor. The different species 

 of Violets are marked by quite 

 difl^erent characters; some of 

 the species are very fragrant 

 while others have little odor. 

 The color of the anthers 

 differs with different species. 

 The pupils should watch the 

 process of seed development 

 in a flower. The seed pods are three lobed and these lobes divide showing 

 double row of seeds in each. Each lobe curls back and thus scatters the 

 seed. At the base of most of the species of Violets can be found the small 

 flowers that never open; they have no petals and never open, but within, the 

 pollen and the pistil are fully developed. These flowers seem to be developed 

 purposely for self-fertilization and in the botanies they are called the " cleistog- 

 amous" flowers; (see figure p. 94) in some species they are on upright stems, in 

 others they lie flat. There is much difference in the shape of the rootstock in the 

 different epecies of Violets; some are delicate and others are strong and some are 

 creeping. 



Photo by Verne Morton. 

 The common blue violet growing in a pasture. 



