THE TRANSFER OF THE POLLEN 75 



is a notable example of a root producing buds and young 

 plants. And linally we know that even the leaves of some 

 plants have the power to produce buds which will grow into 

 plants. But this is not so strange as it may first appear, when 

 we stop to consider that the ovules which develop into seeds 

 are a part of the pistil which is a modified leaf. It is very 

 evident that the preceding methods of reproduction by buds 

 is very rapid and that a large number of new individuals like 

 the parents can be produced in a very short time. It is known 

 as the asexual or non-sexual method. 



By Flowers and Seeds. — However, the most important, the 

 most complicated, and the highest method of reproduction is 

 by means of seeds which are the result of the sexual activ- 

 ities of the plant. In all the preceding methods of reproduction, 

 each young plant has but one parent. But in reproduction by 

 means of seeds each plant, with a few exceptions (Chapter V), 

 has two parents. The stamens may be considered the male 

 organs and the pistils the female organs, and the process of 

 seed production may be briefly described as follows : Within the 

 anthers are borne great numbers of pollen (Fig. 59) grains 

 which are readily recognized as the powder which is so abun- 

 dant in the large lilies and many other flowers. This pollen 

 must be transferred to the stigma of the pistil of the same or 

 another flower. (Fig. 60.) You will recall that the stigma 

 is the only part of the plant that is without an epidermal cov- 

 ering. (Page 62.) 



The transfer of the pollen is sometimes accomplished by 

 some of the many insect visitors that are attracted by the honey 

 or odor of the flower, or by humming birds, or in some cases 

 by the wind. The transfer of the pollen is called pollination, 

 and should not be confused with fertilization. Each pollen 

 grain is a single cell which undergoes a growth resulting in the 

 foiTnation of a long, ddicate tube which grows downward 



