306 ] The Fascination of Flowers 



a poppy has been fertilized, the circular cover develops a scalloped 

 edge. Sharp ridges run from the center of each scallop down the 

 length of the vaselike pistil. These ridges are the outer edges of 

 partitions. Countless seeds develop inside these partitions and, 

 when ripe, they fall into the hollow capsule which forms the 

 center of the pistil. 



The Poppy's Seed-Shaker: An observant child is charmed to see 

 how poppy seeds make their way in the world. As each segment 

 of the capsule loosens at the top and curls back from the circular 

 cover, openings are formed. The upshot is that the 'Vase" has 

 been made into a perfect seed-shaker. When the wind blows on 

 it, or when it is brushed by any passing creature, the contents 

 the seeds are sprinkled a little at a time in all directions. 



There are a great many varieties of poppies, but only four 

 species are commonly cultivated: the corn poppy and the opium 

 (both of them annuals); the arctic and the oriental (both 

 perennials) . 



The California poppy in its native setting blooms abundantly 

 from February to April in the desert and the foothills. In gardens 

 in the East you can see the shining orange flowers from mid- 

 summer until frost arrives. 



IRISES LARGE AND SHOWY 



The large, showy iris, also called "blue flag," is another 

 plant favored by bees. It has an interesting shape because of its 

 unique style, which is divided into three branches so large and 

 broad that they appear to be petals. These branches combined 

 with the sepals form a tunnel through which bees pass. Between 

 the sepals and the style are the true petals, marked with decora- 

 tive purple lines. 



How the Bee Maneuvers on the Iris: The bee uses the lip of a 

 sepal for its landing platform, then pushes forward through the 

 tunnel to the nectar well. As the insect moves, pollen that it has 

 collected from another flower is rubbed off against the stigma, 

 which hangs like a tent flap above the nectar well. The stigma is 

 so fashioned that it gathers pollen from an incoming insect but 

 turns a blank side to the departing visitor. 



