THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



tube which carries the pollen from the stigma to 

 the ovary. The peony has a comj)ound pistil, the 

 component parts of which are called carpels. 

 Each carpel is composed of a single cell contain- 

 ing many seeds, and the style or extension of the 

 ovary. A groove runs along the inner side of 

 the carpel. This groove contains tiny stigmatic 

 nodules or protuberances. 



Both pistil and stamens are to be found in 

 the peony. The stamens, which are usually nu- 

 merous, surround the pistil. In peonies which 

 have entered into the process of doubling, the 

 stamens may be found amongst the petals 

 throughout the flower. The stamens are in two 

 parts: (1) the anthers or cells full of yellowish 

 powder or pollen, and (2) the filaments or slender 

 stems supporting the anthers. The anthers are 

 composed of two long, narrow cells which open 

 when the pollen is ripe. 



Cross-breeding or cross-pollination consists of 

 securing the fertilisation of the seed cells of one 

 peony by placing upon the nodule-covered groove 

 of the carpels the pollen obtained from the anthers 

 of another peony. 



The two flowers which have been selected 

 for cross-breeding should be carefully protected 



182 



