154 GLIMPSES INTO PLANT-LIFE 



can proceed to stud}' the other parts of the 

 flower. 



First we find a great number of little )-ellowish 

 stalks tipped with tiny pouches ; these are the 

 stamens, and in the little pouches (anthers) the 

 yellow powder termed pollen is developed. We 

 will carefully take away these stamens, and note in 

 so doing that they are all distinct and all sprung 

 below the green central j^art. Like the sepals and 

 petals, we find the stamens are free and unin- 

 fluenced by the other parts. If we again compare 

 this with a primrose-flower we shall find a 

 difference ; the stamens of the primrose spring 

 from the petals and are therefore called epipetalons 

 {epi upon, a petal). Again in the sweet-pea or 

 scarlet runner we find the stalks of the stamens 

 are all joined together. We now have left upon 

 the flower-stalk the little central green parts 

 previous!}' mentioned ; there are quite a number 

 of them ; each one is distinct from its neighbour 

 and is free. These bodies are known as carpels, 

 the}' are large at one end and taper to a curved 

 point at the other, the brpad end being attached to 

 the stem. Collectively these carpels constitute the 



