12 



CEREALS 



Mm I ) . 





Fig 



1. — The oat {Avcna saliva, 

 Grass Family, Graminene). 

 Plant in flower, showing sev- 

 eral leafy stalks growing from 

 one root. Three of the stalks 

 bear flower-clusters. About 

 one-fifth natural size. (Bail- 

 Ion.) 



guishcd (1) a lower swollen part, 

 th(> ovary, containing a small egg- 

 shaped bod3% the ovule; (2) a pair 

 of elongated middle parts, the 

 stijles, each connecting the ovary 

 with (3j a free, terminal part, 

 the stigma, which is here like a 

 little plume. Around the pistil 

 are three stamens very like what 

 are commonly met with in other 

 flowers. Each stamen consists 

 of (1) a double sac, the anther, 

 in which are produced innum- 

 erable dust-like particles, the 

 pollen, and (2) a threadlike part, 

 the filament, on the upper end of 

 which the anther is borne. When 

 the anther is ripe it sheds its 

 pollen, a particle of which com- 

 ing to rest upon an oat stigma 

 tarings al)0ut the ripening of the 

 ovule into a seed. As the ovule 

 ripens, the ovary enlarges to keep 

 pace with it, forming at last for 

 the seed a firm protective cover- 

 ing which together with tire seed 

 constitutes the grain. Mean- 

 while the styles, stigmas, and 

 stamens, having fulfilled their 

 office, Avither and fall off. The 

 ripened ovary and its contents 

 together with whatever parts 

 ripen in connection with it (in 

 this case two husks) constitute 

 the fruit. 



Since the purpose of the flower 

 is to form seeds, and this is ac- 

 complished by means of stamens 

 and pistils, these are called the 



