208 FIRST STEPS IX GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 



in ens and pistil. But I suppose these rays spread- 

 ing round the edge are only petals." 



"Look at them well, and you will see that 

 they also are florets, each having its own pistil, 

 but no stamens, while the centre florets have 

 each five stamens, as well as a pistil. These 

 outer florets, you see, are strap-shaped, the 

 inner, tubular; and a number of composite 

 flowers are made closely on this pattern, as the 

 yellow corn-marigold, the white ox-eye, the com- 

 mon yarrow, camomile, golden- 

 rod, colt's-foot, and others. But 

 if you gather one of the dan- 

 delions* in the orchard, you 

 will find that it does not agree 

 with this pattern, although it 

 is a composite flower." 



Mary ran and gathered it, 

 and she soon saw that all its 

 florets are strap-shaped ; and 

 her father told her, that when 



^^ meet with ft thigfle 



in blossom, or its near relation, the burdock, she 

 would find just the reverse to be the case, for all 



* Jjeonfoclon taraxacum. 



