LILIACEiE 



249 



staminate and pistillate flowers are borne on different plants. 

 Hermaphroditic flowers sometimes occur, however. The 

 staminate flowers (Fig. 98) are slightly larger than pistillate 

 ones. Staminate flowers bear six well-developed stamens 

 and a very short, rudimentary pistil. Pistillate flowers 

 (Fig. 98) have six rudimentary stamens and a single well- 

 developed pistil. Such flowers are practically unisexual. 

 It has been shown that staminate plants are more produc- 

 tive than pistillate ones. Green, in determining the relative 

 productivness of pistillate and staminate plants, obtained the 

 following results: 



Peoduct from Fifty Plants Each, Staminate and Pistillate 



This shows a gain of the staminate plants over the pistillate 

 plants of about 50 per cent, for the whole season, the greatest 

 difference being in the first period. Hence, it seems to show 

 that staminate plants are earlier and more productive than 

 pistillate ones. Fruit production makes a greater demand 

 for food than does the formation of stamens. It is for this 

 reason that staminate plants are able to produce a greater 

 growth of "spears" than pistillate ones. 



Pollination. — Common asparagus is insect-pollinated. 

 The nectaries are small and concealed at the base of the 

 perianth. Staminate flowers are first to open. 



