FERTILIZATION OF FLOWERS 



are generally five in number, although often there are 

 more, and sometimes fewer. Their office is to close 

 around and protect from sun, rain or other injury the 

 inner and essential organs within their enclosure until 

 they are fully ripe, and by their color and odor 

 attract birds and insects from afar, by whose assist- 

 ance the work of fertilization can often only be 

 accomplished. Second. Within, next to the petals, 

 are the stamens, bearing on or near their summits 

 the Anthers, or male pollen-producing organs. 

 They vary in number from one to several hundreds. 

 When by cultivation the petals are rendered double, 

 it is by some of the stamens becoming degenerated 

 into petals. The Anthers are formed of two small 

 lobes, or pod-like vessels, that open, when ripe, and 

 discharge the pollen, a fine, powder-like substance, 

 though often rendered cohesive in certain plants by a 

 sticky, viscid fluid, which prevents its dissipation by 

 the wind. Third. Within the circle of stamens, and 

 occupying the centre of the flower, are placed the 

 Pistil or Pistils, part of the female or ovule-bearing 

 organs of the flower, which, after the flowers fades, are 

 changed or grow, forming the fruit or seeds. It or 

 they consist of one or more tubular structures or Car- 

 pels that arise from the centre and the end of the 

 flower-bearing stem. If multiple, they may unite at 

 the base into one receptacle or ovary, or each may have 



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