62 FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



yellow sepals, the outer of wliich arc very small; six petals, in two 

 whorls, with nectaries at their bases ; and six stamens. The sta- 

 mens at first lie on the petals ; but they are very sensitive, and 

 when the filaments are touched by an insect as it seeks the nectar 

 at their bases, the stamens immediately spring upward, throwing 



THE BAUBEllUY. 



off their pollen, and often depositing some on the insect's back. 

 It is thus possible that the cross-pollination of the flowers is 

 greatly aided by the insect, especially as it will often happen that 

 the same part of its back which has been touched by the elastic 

 stamen \\ill come in contact with the stigma of another flower. 

 The Sycamore, also called the Crcat Maple and the False Plane 



