SOME EARLY FLOWERS 



The leaves of the other early plants we have been studying 

 do this in a less degree. Contrast this with what becomes 

 of the rainfall on an oak, or some similar tree. You often 

 seek shelter under a tree during a rain, because little of the 

 water reaches the ground directly beneath the tree, but at 

 the circumference what a drenching you would get. If you 

 have ever seen a tree uprooted, you know that the fine 

 roots that take in water are in just this region. 



But let us return to the calla and examine what is com- 

 monly called the flower or the lily. The yellow column in 

 the centre you can break up into many little bodies that 

 give out white powder from their tops; these must be 

 anthers. At the base are many little bodies that are clearly 

 pistils. Now the botanists call each pistil of the calla a 

 flower, and each stamen a flower, so the yellow column is 

 really a flower cluster, and the big white wrapping, which 

 you have called the flower, protects the flower cluster ana 

 serves another purpose beside. When this white wrapping 

 begins to unroll, you will find the stigmas down at the 

 bottom ready for pollen, but the anthers will not shed 

 pollen for some time. Now the bottom of the newly opened 

 calla is a very cosy place for little insects to rest or spend 

 the night; it affords some shelter, and is really much warmer 

 than the outside world. If insects that have been getting 

 pollen from older callas come to this opening one for shelter, 

 they will cross pollinate it. L,ook for insects in your calla. 



The, Chinese lily is easily watched, and so is the iris, 

 or flag, that will be in flower a little later. 



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