32 THE DOG-TOOTH VIOLET. 



petals (p) and constitute the corolla (crown). Let the stu- 

 dent take note of the two blunt teeth opposite each other 

 near the base of each petal. Within the corolla and peri- 

 anth are the 6 stamens those slender bodies arranged in 2 

 circles. Each stamen is made up of a filament (fila, thread) 

 bearing at the top an anther a little oblong box with 2 cells 

 opening lengthwise by slits. These contain minute grains of 

 pollen, which in due time escape by the open slits. 



The ^Pollen must be studied under the microscope. Then 

 it appears composed of innumerable grains, oval, yellowish- 

 brown, and peculiarly marked (7). Their use in aiding the 

 formation of the seed will be shown in future lessons. * 



The ^Pistil (pistillum, pestle) is the central organ (3). 

 Being the most important part of all, destined to become 

 the fruit and seed, it is thus surrounded and protected by 

 all the other organs. It is composed of the ovary at the 

 base, the stigma at the top, and the style between. The 

 stigma is 3-lobed, and on dissecting the ovary (4, 5) we shall 

 find 3-cells. May we not infer that there are 3 pistils united 

 into this one compound pistil ? 



PLAK OF THE FLOWER. The diagram (2) exhibits the 

 relative position of the different members of this flower as 

 they stand upon the torus. They occupy five circles. The 

 outer circle is the calyx, and y c c the position of the sepals. 

 The 2d circle is the corolla, and p p p the position of the 

 petals. The 3d and 4th circles are the stamens, and s their 



* Infinitely more pollen is produced than is needed, just as in spring time there 

 are more blossoms on the apple tree than could possibly be matured. So abundant 

 is the yellow pollen developed and shed by the Pine that we frequently see the ground 

 in Pine forests covered with it ; and swept off by the winds, it falls at a distance, 

 alarming the ignorant with a " sulphur rain." The amount shed by the grasses fills 

 the air, producing in sensitive nostrils the effect called the "hay fever." A single 

 Pseony-flower, according to Darwin, produced 3,654,000 grains of pollen. Everywhere 

 in the floral world we meet with the two opposite rules of profuse prodigality and 

 extreme economy. "It is the moral of the New Testament story feeding the hun- 

 gry thousands and then gathering up the fragments that nothing be lost." 



