48 AS CALIFORNIA FLOWERS GROW 



be carried away from the parent plant to a new 

 soil where they can more easily carry on her project. 

 The Milkweed, too, forms a curious floral envel- 

 ope for her seed-making parts. She has the calyx 

 and corolla regular, with five parts each. She has 

 five stamens, one attached to the base of each petal ; 

 but, instead of having them grow up free as the 

 stamens in the Buttercup, she unites their filaments 

 into a tube which encloses the pistil. At the top 

 of each stamen is an anther with two cells, each cell 

 containing a flattened, pear-shaped mass of waxy 

 pollen. The two pollen pears of the same anther 

 are not hung together; but the left one is hung on 

 the same tiny stalk as is the right one of the next 

 anther. So there are five sets hanging, each of two 

 waxy pears, one pear from each of the two adjacent 

 anthers. The stigma is connected with these anthers 

 but is above them. Obviously, the Milkweed needs 

 some insect aid. So, she has developed a fascinating 

 set of nectaries, or honey glands. Five hoods are 

 placed in a ring between the corolla and the sta- 

 mens, and each hood carries a horn curving inward. 

 These hoods are the conspicuous part of the flower. 

 Examine them, and your respect for the Milkweed 

 Will mount high. 



goOf 'course, the bee dives into the hood head first 

 to get the nectar. The waxy pollen pears stick to 

 his legs and are carried to the next blossom. As 



