8 DICOTYLEDONS 



slowly but surely undermines the health of the smoker undl he 

 sinks into an untimely grave. 



1. The Stem and Leaves have a bluish coat of wax on them, 

 which, as we have seen iu the case of the Lotus plant, serves as 

 a means of protection against the choking up of the little breath- 

 ing holes (stomata) by rain water. The leaves near the root 

 are larger than those higher up. If it were not so, the upper 

 leaves would prevent the sunshine from falling on the lower ones 

 and make them useless for making starch. The upper leaves 

 also lie closer to the stem: this serves the same purpose. Besides, 

 having the large leaves low down, the stem need not be so 

 strong; and the leaves also afford shelter to the root and keep the 

 soil there damper than if they grew at a height from the ground. 



If the stem is wounded, a milky juice comes out. This dries 

 and hardens and so protects the tender cells inside from further 

 injury. The juice also gives the whole plant a peculiar smell 

 and taste, which animals do not like and so prevents them from 

 feeding on the leaves. 



2. The Flowers, Avhen in bud, have a calyx of two green 

 sepals. These drop as soon as the flower opens, and the petals, 

 which were crumpled up inside, open out and become quite 

 smooth, and the flower with its four large, shining, white petals 

 becomes very conspicuous. This plant, too, secretes no honey, 

 yet it is visited by insects that eat the pollen which is produced 

 so abundantly on the numerous stamens. Whilst eating they 

 scatter the pollen dust about, covering themselves. The scatter- 

 ed polleu is cauglit by the large shell-shaped petals and kept 

 ready for the next insect visitor. The upright position of the 

 flower also helps to prevent the pollen from being spilt aud 

 wasted on the ground. 



The petals are too weak to carry the weight of the heavy 

 insects that come to visit the flower; another resting place is, 

 therefore, provided, namely the broad-rayed stigma that spreads 

 over the ovary like a shield. Tlie insects which have visited 

 other poppies and got covered with pollen alight here and natur- 

 ally drop some of the pollen-i^rains thus fertilising the ovules 

 or future seeds iu the ovary (fig. 5, 4). 



