242 
If you look at these carefully (Fig. 256), you see 
that one stamen stands alone, while the other nine have 
grown together, forming a tube which is slit down one 
side. This tube clings to the lower part of the pistil. 
Now, if you pull this tube away, what do you 
TR 
> 
ESCe? 
You see a little, green, oblong object, do you not 
(Fig. 258)? 
And what is it? Do you not recognize it? 
Why, it is a baby pea pod. Within it lie the tiny 
green seeds (Fig. 259) which are only waiting for the 
Fic. 258 fresh touch of life from a pollen grain to grow bigger 
and bigger till they become the full-grown seeds of the 
pea plant,—the peas that we find so good to 
eat when they are cooked for dinner. 
So, after all, the building plan of the 
pea blossom is nothing but the old-fash- 
ioned one which reads 
1. Calyx. 
2. Corolla. 
3. Stamens. 
ae Pe istil: 
Had I not told you to do so, I won- 
der if you would have been bright 
enough to pull apart the little pocket 
and discover the stamens and pistil. 
What do you think about this ? 
FIG. 259 
