FLOWERS 



201 



FLOWER, SHOWING COROLLA, STAMEN 

 AND PISTIL. 



Around the outside is a cluster of greenish leaves. 



This is called the calyx. Within the calyx is the corolla, 



a cluster of leaves which in many plants are colored. 



Within the corolla are 



a number of parts con- 

 sisting of a rather slender 



stalk with an enlarged 



tip. This tip is called 



the anther, and the stalk 



and anther together, the 



stamen. 



In the center of the 



flower are the pistils. 



At the top of a pistil is 



generally a somewhat 



enlarged portion, the stigma, which is sticky or rough ; 



and at the bottom there is an enlarged hollow portion, the 



seed-bearing part, called the ovary. These two parts are 



connected by the stalk- 

 like style. The stamens 

 and pistils are the essen- 

 tial parts of the flower, 

 the calyx and corolla be- 

 ing simply for protec- 

 tion or assistance. All 

 flowers do not have these 

 four parts, but every 

 flower has either stamen 

 or pistils or both. 



The anther produces a 

 large number of little 



PINK GENTIAN. 



Showing the anthers which are covered 

 with pollen. 



granular bodies, called pollen grains, each of which consists 

 of a free cell containing protoplasm. When the pollen 

 grains are ripe, the anther opens and exposes them. If a 



