42 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



this position each little arm covers the sticky inner 

 surface of the other, so that no grain of pollen 

 can be dropped between them, and only these inner 

 surfaces are receptive to the pollen's vitalizing 

 touch. On the outer surface of the pistil, espe- 

 cially towards its tip, are short, scattered hairs 

 pointing upward. As the growth of the pistil 

 carries it up through the anther- ring, these hairs 

 collect the pollen which remains clinging to the 

 outside of the pistil after its full growth is at- 

 tained. Now the pistil projects far above the 

 anther-ring and corolla, so that the pollen which 

 covers its surface can scarcely fail to be brushed 

 off upon the body of any visiting insect (Fig. 4, a). 

 And the dandelion is a general favorite, almost 

 certain of a run of company. The honey is very 

 abundant, and rises high in the little tubes, and 

 this feast is offered at a time when nectar is scarce 

 in the chill and windy world. Ninety-three species 

 of insect have been observed by Miiller paying 

 their attentions to the dandelion. 



After a while, when most of the home-made pol- 

 len has been carried away by insects the arms of 

 the pistil bend downward, till they are in the 

 position of the crosspieces of the letter T (Fig. 

 4, b\ Now their sticky or stigmatic surfaces are 



