12 



THE WAY LIFE BEGINS 



The Examination of a Flower 



Choose a flower and examine it carefully; any of the fruit 

 blossoms, the wild rose, buttercups, snapdragons, geraniums, 

 or mustard will do. The easter lily is selected for description 

 here as the blossom is large and the parts easily seen. The 

 four principal structures of the lily blossom are shown in 

 Figure I. These are first, the sepals (greenish white); second, 

 the petals; third, the stamens, consisting of the anthers and 



Petal 



Stamen 



FIGURE i 



iStKjma 



Style 



IjOvary 



Pistil 



Seed Pod 



The cup of the lily is formed of six white leaves, three sepals and three petals. There are 

 six stamens with their Pendant anthers; and one pistil with its three-lobed stigma and ovary. 

 The ripe ovary later becomes the seed pod. 



their supporting filaments; and, fourth, the pistil composed of 

 the ovary, the style, and the stigma. These are practically all 

 of the part of the flower which it will be necessary to learn. 

 Taking the lily flower as a whole, there are three sepals and 

 three petals arranged alternately and so forming the flower cup; 

 six stamens; and the three-lobed ovary and stigma. Among 

 flowers there will be found great variability in the form and 



