FERTILIZATION OF THE FLOWERS. 



37 



We say flowers are proliferous when either 

 the glumes, palea, stamens or ovary, or all of 

 these develop into small leaves in place of 

 flowers. This is not uncommon in Indian 

 corn and Juncus. The bulblets of onions or 

 " onion sets" are familiar examples. 



In this connection a reference to figure 53 

 will show several forms of ovaries and styles, 

 'and impress the reader with the importance fl( Jjg- fi 

 of examining these minute and delicate 



the sheath and a portion 



organs for generic and specific characters. a e ?eaf e 8ii il h s ti the b i ade 



e arg 



Fig. 53. 7, Pistil of Mttxrrn minima; 2, Pistil of Arrhenatherum avenaceum; 3, Pistil 

 of Olyceria aquatica ; 4, Pistil of Melica umflma; 6, Pistil of Bromus mottis; 8, 

 Pistil of Alopecurus pratensis, meadow fox tail : 7, Pistil of Rwrdus stricta. All 

 magnified. (From Affrostographia, synopttca by Kunth). 



Fertilization of the Flowers. When the flowers arrive at 

 a certain stage of growth, the stigmas are ready to receive the 

 pollen, which sends a miniature thread down the style to the 

 ovule. The pollen of grasses is in the form of round, smooth 

 cells, and escapes readily. The flowers of grasses, except where 



