146 THE NATURE AND WORK OF PLANTS 



the body of the gametophyte were united to form 

 the fertilized egg from which a new plant was 

 formed, though this is not always the case. In the 

 seed plants, however, the two kinds of gametes are 

 produced on different individuals, which are borne 

 on separate organs of the sporophyte, or on sepa- 

 rate plants. Thus the male gamete is produced in 

 a minute individual formed by the germination of 

 the pollen, and the female gamete in another im- 

 bedded deeply in the ovary. 



202. The structure of a floiver. — Secure a 

 fresh supply of flowers of the apple. This may 

 be done in winter by bringing in some twigs 

 of these trees, in the latter part of the winter, 

 and placing the lower ends in water for two or 

 three weeks before needed. The preparation should 

 be kept in a comfortable living room near a win- 

 dow. A supply of these or other suitable species 

 may be found out of doors during the proper sea- 

 son. When the fully opened blossoms have been 

 secured, note that the flower appears to sit in a 

 cup the upper edges of which divide into five leaf- 

 like bodies. The shape, size, and arrangement of 

 these will vary greatly in the several species 



