Lily-kin and Rose-kin 139 



numerous cousins of the pinks, the violets, almost 

 every member of the immense buttercup connec- 

 tion, and many other blossoms of many tribes, fol- 

 low the rule of five with more or less fidelity. 



Other large families among the rose's kin bear 

 blossoms, whose parts, like those of the garden- 

 fuchsia, are in fours or in multiples of four. 



Among the lily's kin the parts of the flower are 

 in threes, or their structure shows that they once 

 followed the rule of three, which they have now 

 partially abandoned. 



The lilies themselves have three sepals and 

 three petals, generally much alike in color and 

 texture (Fig. 30). Sometimes all six have grown 

 together into a chalice, which is still bordered 

 with six reminiscent scallops. 



Within these are three stamens or, it may be 

 six forming an outer and an inner trio. At the 

 flower's heart there may be three pistils, or, as in 

 the flowering rush, six. or one, which, when we 

 slice it across, is found to contain three seed- 

 pockets. Sometimes as the seed-vessel ripens these 

 pockets break away from one another, so that the 

 final result looks almost like three ripened pistils 



(Fig- 30- 



The blossoms of grasses and sedges have de- 



