28 FLOWERS. 



rises from the top of this seed-vessel, and sup- 

 ports a small spongy substance called the Stigma. 

 Around this pistil, or pistils, (as there are sometimes 

 many,) are placed the stamens, each consisting of a 

 slender thread, or filament, supporting a little bag, 

 called the anther, which contains the pollen, a kind 

 of powder or dust; when this powder ripens, the 

 anthers burst, and the pollen falls upon the stigma, 

 which is mostly below, and thus the seed in the ovary 

 becomes fertilized. These grains of pollen, which 

 are very minute, when seen under a microscope are 

 of various shapes; some are round or oval, some 

 square, others are toothed like a watch-wheel, or re- 

 semble a prickly ball, while others have long appen- 

 dages or tails. 



There is much difference observable in the shape 

 ind size of flowers, as well as their colorings ; some 

 are large and showy, while others are so diminutive 

 as to require the aid of a microscope to distinguish 

 them. Some are shaped like a bell, as may be seen 

 in the Campanula; others like a trumpet, as the Con- 

 volvulus and Honeysuckle; the common Snapdragon 

 and the Scarlet Sage have flowers of a very peculiar 

 form, called ringent, or grinning, from their resem- 

 blance to an open mouth ; but the most common form 

 of flowers is the shape of a star or a cross. They 

 generally consist of from four to eight or ten petals, 

 spreading out like rays, arranging themselves va- 

 riously; sometimes these petals are broad at the 

 base, and bend upwards, and form a shallow cup; 

 sometimes they bend backwards, and almost clasp the 



