FLOWERS, THEIR STRUCTURES AND KINDS 155 



243. The corolla. Next inside of the calyx is the corolla. It 

 consists of five distinct, free members or parts, of bright yellow 

 color. Each one of these is a petal. The number of petals 

 sometimes varies, six sometimes being present. Each petal is 

 broadly obovate, wedge-shaped in outline, with a minute claw at 

 the base on the upper side. The function of the corolla, when 



Fig. 112. 



Flower of buttercup (Ranunculus acris) with petals removed and arranged at left. The 

 flower at the right has the sepals, stamens and pistils. 



bright in color, is supposed to be that of attracting insects which 

 aid in pollination. It also serves to protect the inner members of 

 the flower in the bud. 



244. The stamens. Just inside of the corolla are a large 

 number of small flower members known as stamens. Each 

 stamen consists of two parts, the stalk or filament, and a broad 

 terminal portion, the anther. The anther is slightly lobed into 

 two parts. Each lobe is called an anther sac, or locule. It is a 



