Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 5 



Bracts are small leaves that appear of tenest at the 

 junctions of flower stems with the stalk. Stipules are 

 small bracts often appearing where a leaf petiole 

 joins the stem. 



FORMS OF FLOWERS. A Perfect flower is one 

 that has a pistil and stamens. The Pistil 

 is usually in the center of the blossom; 

 it is composed of the Ovary, containing 

 the seeds, usually located at the base; of a Stigma, 

 for the reception of pollen, usually at the summit of 

 the pistil; and of a Style, this being the, usually, 

 slender connecting link between the sigma and the 

 ovary. 



Stamens usually radiate from the base of the pistil. 

 At their ends we find enlargements or little cases 

 called the Anthers; these contain fine, dust-like parti- 

 cles called Pollen. 



A simple, regular, perfect flower has a Calyx, the 

 outermost part of the floral envelope, divided into 

 four or five parts each being Sepal, a Corolla, the 

 inner part of the floral envelope, divided into four 

 or five parts called the Petals, a pistil and four or five 

 stamens. This is the most simple form of flower; 

 from it there are endless variations. Some have one 

 of the petals enlarged, dilated, twisted or broad- 

 ened into some unusual form as shown in the Or- 

 chids, others have two or more of the petals united 

 as in the Pulse Family; or again, the sepals and pet- 

 als may be uniform in size, shape and color as in 

 the Lilies, the whole forming what is called the 

 Periantn. 



Reference to the plate of Flower Forms will give 

 one a much clearer idea than would text in regard to 

 the outlines of flower shapes commonly found. A 

 single flower, or flower head, at the end of a simple 



