FLOWER. OVARY. FRUIT. 47 



148. Inside the stamens, in the middle of the flower, 

 are the Pistils, each one of which consists of a short column, 

 called a Style, tipped with a very delicate crest called the 

 Stigma, which is usually tender and moist when the flower 

 is in perfection. In a rose the style seems to be nearly 

 wanting, the stigma appearing to rest almost directly 

 upon the receptacle or centre of the flower. But if you 

 cut down directly through the centre of the .flower, you 

 you will find the style somewhat long and connected at 

 the bottom with an ovule. 



149. The Pollen or fertilizing dust of the anther falls 

 upon the moist stigma, and penetrates, by means of some 

 thing which looks like a root, to the interior of the base 

 of the style to a cavity called the Ovary, containing ovules, 

 or imperfect, rudimentary seeds. The effect is to fertilize 

 the ovules and make them become real, proper seeds, by 

 producing within them an Embryo, or minute, future 

 plant. 



150. &quot;When the seeds are fertilized, the flower begins to 

 fade. Its corolla falls off, its stamens shrivel up, and its 

 calyx usually, but not always, falls or shrinks and disap 

 pears. The ovary swells and becomes the Fruit, which, in 

 process of time, ripens and falls or dries up or decays, 

 according to the kind of plant, and leaves the seeds ready 

 to germinate or sprout, and thus become plants, or to be 

 gathered and sown at the proper season. 



151. Whatever contains the seed is properly called the 

 Fruit of a plant. In the case of wheat, rye and some 

 other seeds, each kernel is at the same tune a seed and a 

 fruit/ Usually, however, a fruit contains several or even 

 a large number of seeds. A bean pod or pea pod or a 

 poppy head, is a fruit, as well as an apple, a pear or a 

 melon. 5* 



