SEPAL. 



SECTION COROLLA CALYX 



MAY — THE FLOWER 



May is the month of flowers, and you will find pleasure 

 in studying the blossoms on your vegetables and flowers. 



In the center of the flower is the pistil. The lower part of 

 the pistil is the seed pod, or ovary. Around the pistil are the 

 stamens. They produce a fine yellow powder called pollen. 



Around the stamens are the petals, or colored parts of 

 the flower. All the petals together are called the corolla. 

 Near the base of the petals of most flowers are small glands 

 that produce a clear, sugary sirup called nectar. 



Under the petals are the sepals. In many flowers they 

 inclose the bud. All the sepals together make the calyx. 



Now, why do plants produce flowers? It is to attract 

 the bees and butterflies and other insects. A plant cannot 

 produce seed unless the pollen from the stamens is placed 

 on the top of the pistil to fertilize the young seeds. 



So the flowers produce the sweet nectar to attract the 

 insects, and the bright colors and sweet perfumes are adver- 

 tisements telling the insects where the nectar may be found. 

 In this way the insects are attracted to the flowers, and in 

 their visits they carry the pollen from the stamens to the 

 pistils. Thus the seeds are fertilized and made to grow, 

 and then the wonderful work of the flower is done. 



In May plant tender vegetables. Thin your early ones. 



[41] 



