COMMON OBJECTS WORTH EXAMINING. 287 



shape, size, and appearance in different plants. The 

 supply of new forms is therefore almost unlimited. In 

 some the yellow dust consists of ovate grains with a 

 central longitudinal depression, like a grain of wheat ; in 

 others it is triangular or spherical ; in most it is delicately 

 roughened or attractively marked. The pollen of the 

 Passion-flower, the hollyhock, and the dandelion are es- 

 pecially noteworthy. The study of pollen and the draw- 

 ing of the magnified image should be particularly pleas- 

 ant work for ladies. The botanical study necessary to 

 identify the plant supplying the pollen is advantageous 

 and agreeable. The delicate microscopical work needed 

 is more than pleasant, and is suited to the refined tastes 

 of the ladies. The use of a pencil to record and pre- 

 serve the beautiful forms and their markings will add 

 much to the enjoyment and the profit ; the work will 

 then be both attractive and inspiring. 



18. SEEDS of wild plants form another almost inex- 

 haustible group, some of them being exquisite beyond 

 description. Even so common and so lowly a plant as 

 the carrot has seeds of very peculiar appearance. The 

 poppy, the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardindlis), and oth- 

 er lobelias, are among the many worth noting. The 

 portulaca and the many wild geraniums are also desir- 

 able. They should be examined dry as opaque objects. 

 The seeds of Collomia have long been favorites on ac- 

 count of the peculiar spiral vessels on their surface. 

 The plant is a subtropical one, and, so far as I know, 

 does not grow uncultivated in any part of our country. 



