iH2 GFJMPSES INTO PLANl-LIFE 



out of the anther lobes ; the pistil is concealed in 

 the lont;" tube, and in this stage there is no sign 

 of stigma. In a short time, however, if we examine 

 the flower again, we shall find the stamens have 

 shrivelled up, and in their place a forked stigma 

 appears, as shown in the sketch. Here again it is 

 ob\'i()Us that the fact of the stamens ripening first 

 and expending their energ)- before the pistil is ripe 

 must mean, that in order to secure seed the pollen 

 from some \'ounger flower must be transferred, 

 probably also b\' insect agenc)'. It will give fresh 

 interest to our garden rambles if we remember that 

 the bees and flies we see hovering over the flowers 

 are not onl)' collecting hone)' or feasting upon it, 

 but are al'-o performing a ver)' important office for 

 the benefit of the plants they are visiting. 



We ma\' no\t proceed to notice the various 

 agencies for the conve\'ance of pollen between 

 flowers. 



These agencies are water, wind, insects and birds. 



In an earlier chapter I ga\e an account of the 

 ]\Tillis}icria spiralis, \\\\\<i\\ will serve as a t)'pe of 

 a water-pollinated flower. 



Those pollinated b)- w ind are, as I have said in 



