A BUTTERCUP. 



FIG. 4. Pol- 

 len grains 

 of Butter- 

 cup (mag- 

 nified). 



more than twice a.s many as petals, they are said to be 

 polyandrous. 



The anthers we must examine more closely. We have 

 already observed that there is a groove up the back (outer 

 side), and another, less distinct, along the 

 face (inner side). These grooves divide the 

 anther into two lobes, right and left. If the 

 anther be ripe, each of these lobes will split 

 open near the outer edge, allowing certain 

 fine powdery grains which it contains to be 

 easily removed by insects or otherwise. 

 These grains being as essential to the flower 

 as they are characteristic of the stamen, we 

 must carefully examine them under a micro- 

 scope. Fig. 4 shows them highly magnified. 



We find that they are distinct globular 

 cells with minutely granular contents. These globular 

 cells we call the pollen, and each cell is a pollen-grain. 



Remove all the stamens, noting the minute, closely- 

 packed, and spirally-arranged scars which remain after 

 you have picked them off. You find 

 the stamens, like the sepals and petals, 

 inserted directly upon the floral re- 

 ceptacle. This being the case, they 

 are technically described as hypo- 

 gynous. 



8. You have now left a small head, 

 consisting of numerous distinct, but 

 very closely - packed, sessile leaves, 

 extremely unlike either sepals, petals, 

 or stamens. Separate one of them, 

 and try to cut it through lengthwise. 

 Fig. 5 shows one thus treated. It is 

 hollow, containing a single, pale- 

 coloured body, attached to the base 

 of the cavity. This is the rudiment 

 of a future seed, and it is termed, in 

 its present stage, an ovule. The hollow leaf which con- 

 tains and protects the tender ovule is called a carpellary 

 leafov Carpel. 



Examine the outside of any one of these carpels with a 

 magnifier, and you must observe that the upper portion 



FIG. 5. Vertical sec- 

 tion of a carpel of 

 Buttercup, containing 

 one inverted ovule 

 (magnified). 



