THE BROOM. 



8 



The flowers, too, are larger than those of the Furze, though 

 similar in structure. The calyx is two-lipped, the petals five, 

 unequal in size and shape. The very large upper petal erects 

 itself somewhat, and is known as the " standard." The two 

 lateral ones are called " wings," and the lower pair are united 

 all along their lower edges, to form a boat-shaped body, called 

 the " keel." In this keel lie the stamens and pistil, which are 

 curved, and the former have the filaments united into a tube 

 within which lies the ovary. The stamens also vary in length, 

 and should a bee alight on a newly-opened blossom in quest of 

 pollen for the Broom produces no honey the pressure of the 

 " wings " upon the " keel " forces out the shorter stamens, and 

 they dust the bee's abdomen with pollen. Should, however, the 

 insect visit a flower lower down the stem and consequently a 

 day or two older, the long stamens and the pistil spring out 

 with some force, and the hairs on the pistil brush out the shed- 

 pollen from the "keel" and sprinkle it on the bee's back. 

 Then the pistil curls so that the stigmatic surface shall come in 

 contact with the abdomen of the next bee that arrives, probably 

 with pollen from another flower. Thus fertilized the ovary 

 develops into a valved pod like that of the garden pea, but 

 smaller, of course, and black. When ripe the valves separate, 

 twist up and scatter the seeds. Press down the wings with 

 the finger in the position a bee would occupy, and observe the 

 action of this remarkable mechanism, which, with variations, 

 is common to all Leguminous plants (see pages 43, 44, 47, 



48, 49, 5 2 > 73> 94> IOI > *3 2 )- The Broom flowers from A P ril to 

 June, and is widely distributed throughout the kingdom. 



Fumitory (JFumaria offidnatis). 



I have frequently found that the grace and lightness of the 

 Fumitory suggest to the non-botanical mind some kind of 

 relationship with the Maidenhair-fern ; more especially is this 



