142 The Romance of Wild Flowers 
swelling corresponding with a depression in each of 
the wings, so that the whole interlock. The anthers 
shed their pollen before the 
stigma is mature, and it lies 
in the point of the keel. 
When a bee alights upon 
the wings, its weight de- 
presses them, and they bend 
the keel in such fashion 
that the curved pistil is 
pressed out at the tip of the 
keel, and the hairs with 
Stamens and Pistil of Pea-flower which its inner face is 
covered sweep out the 
pollen against the bee’s abdomen. When the weight 
of the bee is removed, the organs resume their 
former positions; then if the bee visits a slightly 
older flower, the stigma will be pushed out 
against the bee’s abdomen, and receive some of 
the pollen-grains from the first flower. Thus 
fertilised, the long flat ovary of one carpel 
develops into the one-celled legume which is 
characteristic of the family, and to which it 
owes its name. This is one of the best examples [fj 
of the true nature of carpels one could have; ( 
for if some large species like the garden Pea { 
be selected, and a nearly full-grown juicy legume 
be split open along the back, it will be seen to 
be just a folded leaf bearing seeds along its Peapod 
edges. Bs! 
The form of flower we have described at length 
is found with slight modifications to prevail throughout 
the whole family—that is, so far as the native genera 
=o" ss . 
SAAOW as: 
2 
