118 



DICOTYLEDONS 



composed of a receptacle, like that of the Sunflower, with numer- 

 ous flowers or fruits resting on it. The receptacle, however, is 

 not flat, but forms a hollow ball, leaving a small opening at the 

 top. The little flowers within the flg contain either one stamen 

 or one pistil each, and each is surrounded by a minute floral 

 envelope, called perianth*, with three to five segments (fig. 109, 3-6). 

 Hence the plant is grouped under the monochlamydeousf plants. 

 The staminate flowers are generally placed at the top of the fig, 

 and the pistillate ones at the bottom. The inconspicuousness of 

 the flowers Avould point at pollination by the agency of the wind 

 (see II. Part, Pollination). But the fig is polli- 

 nated hv insects. And this is done in the follow- 



1 we cut figs of the Banyan tree open, 

 often find numerous grubs in them and 

 sometimes also little wasps. The 

 iv latter must have entered through 

 the hole at the top of the fig. They 

 lay their eggs in the ovules of 

 pistillate flowers. In a short time 

 grubs grow from these eggs and 

 eventually become wasps again, 

 and when they leave the fig, they 

 cover themselves with the pollen- 

 dust of staminate flowers near the hole, 

 and thus, when visiting another fig, fertilize 

 the pistillate flowers of the latter. The 

 same happens in the fig of the Cultivated 

 Fig tree (see fig. 112). 



4. The Figs become scarlet and ripen 

 in the cold weather. They are a welcome 

 food for many birds, bats and other animals, 

 whicli in their turn, disperse the seeds over 

 ii wide area. 



Fig. no. — Leaf of 

 Peepul {Ficvs religiosa). 



* From Greek peri, about; and anthos, a flower. fFrom Greek imjnos, single, 

 and chldtiiys, a cloak. 



