Pollination and Fertilization 



123 



The silk is the long style, the upper portion of which is 

 stigmatic. 



Examine Kaffir corn. Where are stamens and grains 

 borne ? 



The white spathe of Richardia (" Arum ") surrounds a 

 central column, on the lower part of which ovaries are borne. 

 The upper portion is not ripe until a few days after the stigmas 

 are. It consists of stamens closely crowded, which will in time 

 discharge quantities of white pollen. The spathe or bract 



Fig. 138. — Spadix of Richardia Africana with one half of spathe. The pistillate 

 flowers are below, the staminate flowers above. (From Edmonds and Marloth's 

 " Elementary Botany for South Africa.") 



surrounds a spadix of flowers, the pistillate at the bottom and 

 staminate at the top. 



These are only a few examples of imperfect or diclinous 

 flowers. Why should stamens and pistils be separated in 

 different flowers ? Often on difterent plants ? 



We are beginning to feel sufficiently acquainted with 

 flowers to ask for confidences not revealed to chance acquaint- 

 ances. If we find a new acquaintance on the veld, let us 

 know all we can about it before it is pressed. Some of them 



