A STUDY IN FRUIT BLOSSOMS. 



463 



Fig. 2468. Semi-Double Blossoms of Crab Ap- 

 ples, Showing Part of the Stamens 

 Transformed into Petals. 



the flower, and is situated within the calyx- 

 tube. Its parts are called petals. The 

 showy color of the petals helps to attract 

 insects to the nectaries in the centre of the 

 flower, and in this way indirectly helps to 

 bring about fertilization. 



The stamens are the male organs of the 

 plant and are situated just within the circle 

 of the corolla. Each stamen is made up of 

 a thread-like filament, on top of which is 

 the anther. The anthers contain the pollen, 

 a yellow substance, which is discharged 

 when the anther becomes mature, and being 

 dry and powdery it is easily carried about 

 by winds or insects. 



The pistil is the female organ of the plant, 

 and is situated in the centre of the flower. 

 It is made up of three parts : the ovary at 

 the base, which contains the ovules or rudi- 

 mentary seeds ; the style, an elongated tube 

 leading down to the ovary and the stigma. 



a roughened enlargement on the top of the 

 style, which receives the pollen from the 

 stamens. The pistil is one of the tenderest 

 parts of the flower, and is often injured when 

 late frosts occur in the spring. The injury 

 from such frosts may not be seen at all up- 

 on the other parts of the flower, but the 

 injured pistil turns black, and consequently 

 does not develop fruit. 



HOW DOUBLE FLOWERS ARE FORMED 



In a perfect single flower, all of the parts 

 above named are present ; and, upon exam- 

 ination, it will be found that there is a regu- 

 lar symmetry in the number of parts. In 

 an apple blossom tor instance, we will find 

 five sepals, five petals, a five-celled ovary, 

 and while there is more than five stamens, 

 it will be found that there is usually some 

 multiple of five. The double flowers, which 

 we admire so much in roses and many other 

 ornamental plants, are brought about by 

 the conversion of the stamens into petals. 

 In most cases, this doubling is only partial, 

 that is, only a part of the stamens develop 

 into petals ; but in some cases, not only the 

 stamens, but pistils also are transformed. 

 Flowers which are completely double can- 

 not, of course, develop seed. 



Fig 2469. Pistillate Strawberry Blossoms. 



