FLOWERS 51 



will let go at once and they fly back half way in an 

 exciting moment. The anthers at once assume a posi- 

 tion crosswise to the stamen and hang as though they 

 were balanced on a tiny point. They commence to 

 shrink in length, then they split down the middle 

 and turn themselves inside out, leaving the pollen 

 exposed as it ripens. This takes an hour or two and 

 when fully ripe they are perhaps two-thirds as long 

 as at first and balanced so delicately the slightest 

 wind rocks them back and forth. They shed a good 

 portion of their pollen and the blossom will last 

 longer if they are not allowed to drop it on the 

 stigma. 



The flower or blossom is to most of us the one 

 great and important thing in plant life. Most of our 

 efforts with flowers are trying to improve by en- 

 largement, color, odor, or arrangement of its parts; 

 some one thing that will bring it into a separate 

 class. The work that has been done by flower lovers 

 is almost beyond comprehension. In Hawaii, for ex- 

 ample, everyone loves flowers and out of three rather 

 unpromising forms over six thousand named varie- 

 ties of the Hibiscus, their territorial flower, have 

 been originated. 



Flowers have innumerable forms, colors and 

 odors, but essentially they are the same. Given parts 

 may be lacking in some forms. They may be bisexual 



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