FLOWERS OF THE DATE PALM 



On the left is a fragment of the female inflorescence, the short fig^a being 

 surmounted bv a round ovary without any showy petals. On the "ght is a 

 sprig of the more conspicuous male or poUen-bearmg flower. It is branches 

 of the male inflorescence like this that the date planter ties m the center of 

 each female inflorescence, in order to ensure his crop of dates which would 

 be worthless unless pollinated. Photograph (much enlarged) froni W. i. 

 Swingle, Bulletin no. 53, U. S. D. A. Bureau of Plant Industry. (Fig. 2.) 



