MEANS OF POLLINATION 



139 



because the pollen of one flower 

 is impotent on the pistil of 

 that flower, feuckwheat is 

 another such plant. 



285. The corn plants are 

 monoecious, and therefore self- 

 pollination is impossible. The 

 staminate flowers of the In- 

 dian corn are in a terminal 

 panicle or tassel. (Fig. 230.) 

 The pistillate flowers are in a 

 dense spike (ear), inclosed in a 

 sheath or husk. (Fig. 231.) Each 

 "silk" is a style. 

 Each pistillate 

 flower may produce 

 a kernel of corn. 

 Sometimes a few 



232. Panicle or tassel of a sorghum in 

 blooming time. 



233. Head or 

 brush of 

 broom - corn 

 at seeding 

 time. Broom- 

 c or n is a 

 sorghum. 

 Brooms are 

 made from 

 the stiff 

 peduncles or 

 rays. 



234. Head of 

 one of the 

 k a fi r s (or 

 milo) in seed. 

 Kafirs are 

 forms of sor- 

 ghums. They 

 are much 

 grown in dry 

 regions. 



a 



pistil- 

 late flowers are borne in the tassel 

 and a few staminate flowers on the 

 tip of the ear. In sorghums, broom- 

 corn and kafirs (Figs. 232, 233, 234), 

 the two kinds of flowers are in the 

 same cluster or tassel. 



286. Although most flowers are of 

 such character as to insure or increase 

 the chances of cross-pollination, there 

 are some in which crossing is abso- 

 lutely forbidden. These flowers are 

 usually borne beneath or on the 

 ground, and they lack showy colors 

 and perfumes. They are known as 

 cleistogamous flowers (meaning "hidden 

 flowers")- The plant has normal 



