THE PARTS OF A FLOWER. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII., 



9' 



THE FUNCTIONS OF THE FLOWER. 



The flowers, or the blossoms, are the reproductive parts 

 of a plant and contain the fructifying organs. They are 

 not specially constructed but are simply altered branches; 

 and the several parts are altered leaves. That is to say, 

 that certain buds, which might have grown into and pro- 

 duced branches with leaves, under certain circumstances 

 and for a special purpose become developed into blossoms. 

 At an early stage of the growth of these buds it is impossi- 

 ble to say whether they will develop into a branch or a 

 flower. 



The parts of a flower are the stem; the calyx or leaves 

 which enfold the petals; the petals; the stamens; and the 

 pistils. In some flowers these change into each other, there 

 is no distinctly fixed line between them, and sometimes the 

 whole flower consists only of a cluster of leaves, as in the 

 green roses which are grown as a curiosity in some gardens. 



The principal parts of the flower so far as they relate to 

 our subject, are the reproductive portions, which are con- 

 cerned in the growth and perfection of the seeds. These are 

 the stamens and pistils. It is not the purpose to give a com- 

 plete botanical description of these organs; this can be 

 learned by reference to any hand book of botany; but an 

 explanation of their nature and relations to each other, and 

 to the development of the seed, will be of interest and value 

 in removing some popular errors in respect to the reproduc- 

 tion of species and in aiding the farmer in many ways to 

 make the culture of his crops successful and profitable. 



The reproductive organs of plants have a very close anal- 

 ogy to those of animals. They are male and female, and 

 the relation of these to each other, and of the latter to the 

 production of fruit or the reproductive germ, bear a Hose- 

 resemblance to those among animals. 



