STRAWBERRY. 



41 



are some twenty or more organs, which are called stamens. 

 These are quite different in appearance from the pistils, be- 

 ing longer, and each one is terminated by a small knob, 

 which is called the anther. The anthers contain pollen, a 



. 13. SECTION OF PERFECT FLOWER. 



substance that is necessary for the production of seed. In 

 figure 12 is shown the same flower as in figure 11, but, be- 

 ing considerably enlarged, the stamens are more readily 

 seen. The same flower is shown in figure 13, divided longi- 

 tudinally tp show the parts still more distinctly, and their 

 relative positions. 



Every so-called seed of the Strawberry has one pistil 

 situated on its apex ; consequently it is a 

 very important organ, inasmuch as it is 

 through this channel that the influence of 



5 



the pollen reaches the ovule or seed vessel. 



The stamens are situated on the calyx, 

 and they may be artificially removed or 

 suppressed by nature, in which case we 

 have a pistillate flower which will produce 

 fruit, if the pistils are fertilized from 

 another flower. It is not important 

 whether a flower produces its own pol- 

 len or is supplied from another source. 



Figure 14 shows a pistillate flower of 

 the usual size, and in figure 15 the same enlarged. By com- 

 paring these with the two preceding the difference may 

 readily be observed. 



Fig. 14. PISTIL- 

 LATE FLOWERS. 



